arable

/ˈæɹəbl̩/

//ˈæɹəbl̩// adj

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

The verdict

“arable” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #30,313 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#30,313
frequency rank, English
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
10
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Able to be plowed or tilled, capable of growing crops (traditionally contrasted with pasturable lands such as heaths).

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

arable vs Arabs
50% similar
arable vs argyle
67% similar
arable vs arguable
75% similar

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

Key facts for arable
PropertyValue
Headwordarable
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈæɹəbl̩/
Letters6
Frequency rank#30,313
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs10
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “arable” 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). arable 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 arable is 6 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈæɹəbl̩/. Corpus data places it at rank #30,313 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 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for arable, with forms such as "aarble", "arabble", and "arabel". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 10 confusable-pair relationships, "Arabs", "argyle", "arguable", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English arable, from Middle French arable, from Old French arable, from Latin arābilis, formed from arō (“plow”) + -bilis (“able to be”). Cognate with earable (“arable”). The correct English form is arable, spelled A-R-A-B-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Able to be plowed or tilled, capable of growing crops (traditionally contrasted with pasturable lands such as heaths).
  2. 2
    Under cultivation (within any quinquennial period) for the production of crops sown and harvested within the same agricultural year (contrasted with permanently-cropped lands such as orchards).

Etymology

From Middle English arable, from Middle French arable, from Old French arable, from Latin arābilis, formed from arō (“plow”) + -bilis (“able to be”). Cognate with earable (“arable”).

Antonyms

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: aarble,arabble,arabel,arablle,aralbe,arbale,arible,arrable,raable

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

aarble2arabble1arabel2arablle1aralbe2arbale2arible1arrable1
Edit distance from "arable"

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 "arable"?
"arable" is spelled A-R-A-B-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈæɹəbl̩/.
What does "arable" mean?
As an adjective, "arable" means: Able to be plowed or tilled, capable of growing crops (traditionally contrasted with pasturable lands such as heaths).
What words are commonly confused with "arable"?
"arable" is commonly confused with "Arabs", "argyle", "arguable". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "arable"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "arable" is /ˈæɹəbl̩/. 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 "arable"?
From Middle English arable, from Middle French arable, from Old French arable, from Latin arābilis, formed from arō (“plow”) + -bilis (“able to be”). Cognate with earable (“arable”). 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 “arable”

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

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