annual

/ˈæn.ju.əl/

//ˈæn.ju.əl// adj

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"annual" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“annual” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #1,211 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#1,211
frequency rank, English
6
letters
6
tracked misspellings
9
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Happening once every year.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

annual vs annum
67% similar
annual vs annular
71% similar
annual vs annually
75% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for annual
PropertyValue
Headwordannual
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈæn.ju.əl/
Letters6
Frequency rank#1,211
Misspellings tracked6
Confusable pairs9
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “annual” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). annual lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for annual is 6 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈæn.ju.əl/. Corpus data places it at rank #1,211 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 6 likely wrong-spelling variants for annual, with forms such as "annaul", "annuall", and "annula". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 9 confusable-pair relationships, "annum", "annular", "annually", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: First attested around 1382, borrowed from Late Latin annuālem, annuālis, related to Latin annālis, adjective form of annus (“year”). Used to categorize plants since 1710. The correct English form is annual, spelled A-N-N-U-A-L.

Definition

  1. 1
    Happening once every year.
  2. 2
    Of, for, or relating to a whole year, often as a recurring cycle; determined or reckoned by the year; accumulating in the course of a year; performed, executed, or completed over the course of a year. See also circannual.
  3. 3
    Having a life cycle that is completed in only one growing season; e.g. beans, corn, marigold. See Annual plant in Wikipedia. Compare biennial, perennial.
  4. 4
    Living or lasting just one season or year, as certain insects or insect colonies.

Etymology

First attested around 1382, borrowed from Late Latin annuālem, annuālis, related to Latin annālis, adjective form of annus (“year”). Used to categorize plants since 1710.

Synonyms

yearly

This word in other languages

anual(Español)annuel(Français)jährlich(Deutsch)anual(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: annaul,annuall,annula,anual,anunal,nanual

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of annual - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

annaul2annuall1annula2anual1anunal2nanual2
Edit distance from "annual"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "annual"?
"annual" is spelled A-N-N-U-A-L. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈæn.ju.əl/.
What does "annual" mean?
As an adjective, "annual" means: Happening once every year.
What words are commonly confused with "annual"?
"annual" is commonly confused with "annum", "annular", "annually". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "annual"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "annual" is /ˈæn.ju.əl/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "annual"?
First attested around 1382, borrowed from Late Latin annuālem, annuālis, related to Latin annālis, adjective form of annus (“year”). Used to categorize plants since 1710. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “annual”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is A-N-N-U-A-L - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈæn.ju.əl/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “annum” - see the side-by-side comparison. annual vs annum
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list