balsam
/ˈbɔl.səm/noun, verb
balsam is spelled B-A-L-S-A-M: 6 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 44,209th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, balsam means “A sweet-smelling oil or resin derived from various plants” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of balsam is balsams.
How many letters and syllables are in balsam?
| Letters | 6: B-A-L-S-A-M |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 2 million words; the 44,209th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Same letters |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is balsam?
Balsam appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 44,209th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce balsam?
- UK /ˈbɔːl.səm/
- US /ˈbɔl.səm/
- /ˈbɑl.səm/
Balsam has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-balsam.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with balsam?
No other word on PlainSpell ends in the same sounds as balsam (/ɔlsəm/).
Spelled with the same letters in another order: sambal.
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of balsam
- balsams plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- balsem
- balsum
- balsome
- balsaming participle, present
- balsamed participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does balsam mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
UKA sweet-smelling oil or resin derived from various plants.
- 2
UKA plant or tree yielding such substance.
- 3
UKA soothing ointment.
- 4
UKSomething soothing.
Classical music is a sweet balsam for our sorrows
- 5
A flowering plant of the genus Impatiens.
- 6
Any member of the balsam family of flowering plants (Balsaminaceae), which includes genera Impatiens and Hydrocera.
- 7
A balsam fir (Abies balsamea).
- 8
Canada balsam, a turpentine obtained from the resin of balsam fir.
verb
- 1
To treat or anoint with balsam.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Balsam in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | pommade , baume , balsamine |
| German | Heilsalbe, Trost , Balsam , Springkraut |
| Portuguese | bálsamo , balsamina |
| Spanish | bálsamo , balsamina |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does balsam come from?
Borrowed from Latin balsamum, from Ancient Greek βάλσαμον (bálsamon, “balsam”), of Semitic origin (Hebrew בושם (“spice, perfume”)); compare Old English balsam, balsamum (“balsam, balm”), Doublet of balm and desman. Not related to balsa.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).