# Bess

> English word · Proper noun · IPA /bɛs/ · frequency rank #26,696

## Definitions
1. A diminutive of the female given name Elizabeth.
2. A term applied to a fellow gay man, usually preceding an admonition.

## Etymology
Variant of Beth, a clipping of Elizabeth.

## Easily confused with
- **BS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bess-vs-bs)
- **bus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bess-vs-bus)
- **bet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bess-vs-bet)
- **bis** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bess-vs-bis)
- **bey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bess-vs-bey)
- **BTS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bess-vs-bts)
- **BSA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bess-vs-bsa)
- **bev** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bess-vs-bev)
- **bps** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bess-vs-bps)
- **BLS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bess-vs-bls)
- **BFS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bess-vs-bfs)
- **best** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bess-vs-best)
- **boys** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bess-vs-boys)
- **boss** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bess-vs-boss)
- **busy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bess-vs-busy)
- **bush** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bess-vs-bush)
- **beta** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bess-vs-beta)
- **bias** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bess-vs-bias)
- **bits** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bess-vs-bits)
- **bros** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bess-vs-bros)

## Common misspellings (3)
`bbess`, `bses`, `ebss`

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