argue

/ˈɑː.ɡjuː/

//ˈɑː.ɡjuː// verb

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

"argue" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“argue” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #3,206 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#3,206
frequency rank, English
5
letters
6
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To show grounds for concluding (that); to indicate, imply.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

argue vs arse
60% similar
argue vs Arun
40% similar
argue vs Arne
40% similar

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

Key facts for argue
PropertyValue
Headwordargue
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈɑː.ɡjuː/
Letters5
Frequency rank#3,206
Misspellings tracked6
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “argue” 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). argue 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 argue is 5 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɑː.ɡjuː/. Corpus data places it at rank #3,206 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 6 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 argue, with forms such as "agrue", "argeu", and "arggue". 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 20 confusable-pair relationships, "arse", "Arun", "Arne", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: Etymology tree Latin arguōder. Old French arguerbor. Middle English arguen English argue From Middle English arguen, from Old French arguer, from Latin arguere (“to declare, show, prove, make clear, reprove, accuse”), q.v. for more. Displaced native Old Eng… The correct English form is argue, spelled A-R-G-U-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To show grounds for concluding (that); to indicate, imply.
  2. 2
    To debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints; to controvert; to wrangle.
  3. 3
    To have an argument, a quarrel.
  4. 4
    To present (a viewpoint or an argument therefor).
  5. 5
    To prove.
  6. 6
    To accuse.

Etymology

Etymology tree Latin arguōder. Old French arguerbor. Middle English arguen English argue From Middle English arguen, from Old French arguer, from Latin arguere (“to declare, show, prove, make clear, reprove, accuse”), q.v. for more. Displaced native Old English flītan and reċċan.

This word in other languages

argumentar(Español)affirmer(Français)diskutieren(Deutsch)discutir(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: agrue,argeu,arggue,arrgue,aruge,rague

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

agrue2argeu2arggue1arrgue1aruge2rague2
Edit distance from "argue"

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 "argue"?
"argue" is spelled A-R-G-U-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɑː.ɡjuː/.
What does "argue" mean?
As a verb, "argue" means: To show grounds for concluding (that); to indicate, imply.
What words are commonly confused with "argue"?
"argue" is commonly confused with "arse", "Arun", "Arne". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "argue"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "argue" is /ˈɑː.ɡjuː/. 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 "argue"?
Etymology tree Latin arguōder. Old French arguerbor. Middle English arguen English argue From Middle English arguen, from Old French arguer, from Latin arguere (“to declare, show, prove, make clear, reprove, accuse”), q.v. for more. Displaced nati... 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 “argue”

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

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