# bile

> English word · Noun · IPA /baɪl/ · frequency rank #22,009

## Definitions
1. A bitter brownish-yellow or greenish-yellow secretion produced by the liver, stored in the gall bladder, and discharged into the duodenum where it aids the process of digestion.
2. Bitterness of temper; ill humour; irascibility.
3. Either of two of the four humours, black bile or yellow bile, in ancient and medieval physiology.

## Etymology
Mid 16th century, via Middle French, from Latin bīlis (“bile”).
Largely displaced Old English ġealla, whence the modern synonym gall.

## Easily confused with
- **BL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bile-vs-bl)
- **bit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bile-vs-bit)
- **bye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bile-vs-bye)
- **bin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bile-vs-bin)
- **bio** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bile-vs-bio)
- **BLM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bile-vs-blm)
- **bis** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bile-vs-bis)
- **biz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bile-vs-biz)
- **bla** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bile-vs-bla)
- **bol** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bile-vs-bol)
- **Boe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bile-vs-boe)
- **BLS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bile-vs-bls)
- **bim** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bile-vs-bim)
- **Bir** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bile-vs-bir)
- **BLE** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bile-vs-ble)
- **bly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bile-vs-bly)
- **bill** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bile-vs-bill)
- **blue** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bile-vs-blue)
- **bird** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bile-vs-bird)
- **bone** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bile-vs-bone)

## Common misspellings (2)
`bille`, `blie`

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