appetizer

/ˈæpɪˌtaɪzə/

//ˈæpɪˌtaɪzə// noun

"appetizer" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“appetizer” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #34,379 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#34,379
frequency rank, English
9
letters
11
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A small, light, and usually savory first course in a meal.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

appetizer vs appetite
78% similar

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

Key facts for appetizer
PropertyValue
Headwordappetizer
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈæpɪˌtaɪzə/
Letters9
Frequency rank#34,379
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “appetizer” 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). appetizer 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 appetizer is 9 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈæpɪˌtaɪzə/. Corpus data places it at rank #34,379 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for appetizer, with forms such as "apeptizer", "apetizer", and "appeitzer". 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 1 confusable-pair relationship, "appetite", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From appetize + -er. The correct English form is appetizer, spelled A-P-P-E-T-I-Z-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    A small, light, and usually savory first course in a meal.
  2. 2
    Something that creates or increases excitement for what is to follow.

Etymology

From appetize + -er.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: apeptizer,apetizer,appeitzer,appetiezr,appetizerr,appetizre,appetizzer,appettizer,appetzier,appteizer,papetizer

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of appetizer - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

apeptizer2apetizer1appeitzer2appetiezr2appetizerr1appetizre2appetizzer1appettizer1
Edit distance from "appetizer"

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 "appetizer"?
"appetizer" is spelled A-P-P-E-T-I-Z-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈæpɪˌtaɪzə/.
What does "appetizer" mean?
As a noun, "appetizer" means: A small, light, and usually savory first course in a meal.
What words are commonly confused with "appetizer"?
"appetizer" is commonly confused with "appetite". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "appetizer"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "appetizer" is /ˈæpɪˌtaɪzə/. 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 "appetizer"?
From appetize + -er. 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 “appetizer”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is A-P-P-E-T-I-Z-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈæpɪˌtaɪzə/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “appetite” - see the side-by-side comparison. appetizer vs appetite
  • 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