# baboon

> English word · Noun · IPA /bəˈbuːn/ · frequency rank #40,131

## Definitions
1. An Old World monkey of the genus Papio, having dog-like muzzles and large canine teeth, cheek pouches, a short tail, and naked callosities on the buttocks.
2. A foolish or boorish person.

## Etymology
From Middle English babewin, baboin, from Old French babouin, from baboue (“grimace; muzzle”), of West Germanic origin, related to dialectal German Bäppe (“lips; muzzle”), Middle High German beffen (“to bark”), Middle English baffen (“to bark”). See also baff, baffle.

## Easily confused with
- **boon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/baboon-vs-boon)
- **bacon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/baboon-vs-bacon)
- **baron** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/baboon-vs-baron)
- **baton** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/baboon-vs-baton)
- **bamboo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/baboon-vs-bamboo)
- **Barton** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/baboon-vs-barton)
- **Barron** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/baboon-vs-barron)
- **Bannon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/baboon-vs-bannon)
- **ballon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/baboon-vs-ballon)
- **balloon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/baboon-vs-balloon)
- **Babylon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/baboon-vs-babylon)

## Common misspellings (8)
`abboon`, `babboon`, `babon`, `babono`, `baboonn`, `baobon`, `bbaboon`, `bbaoon`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/baboon