buffet

/ˈbʊf.eɪ/

//ˈbʊf.eɪ// noun

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

"buffet" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“buffet” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #14,079 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#14,079
frequency rank, English
6
letters
6
tracked misspellings
10
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A counter or sideboard from which food and drinks are served or may be bought.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

buffet vs buffy
67% similar
buffet vs buffs
67% similar
buffet vs bullet
67% similar

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

Key facts for buffet
PropertyValue
Headwordbuffet
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈbʊf.eɪ/
Letters6
Frequency rank#14,079
Misspellings tracked6
Confusable pairs10
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “buffet” 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). buffet 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 buffet is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈbʊf.eɪ/. Corpus data places it at rank #14,079 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 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 buffet, with forms such as "bbuffet", "bfufet", and "bufeft". 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 10 confusable-pair relationships, "buffy", "buffs", "bullet", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: Inherited from Middle English buffet (“stool”), from Middle French buffet (“side table”), from Old French buffet, of unknown origin. The modern pronunciation is remodelled after modern French buffet. The correct English form is buffet, spelled B-U-F-F-E-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    A counter or sideboard from which food and drinks are served or may be bought.
  2. 2
    Food laid out in this way, to which diners serve themselves.
  3. 3
    A small low stool; a hassock.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English buffet (“stool”), from Middle French buffet (“side table”), from Old French buffet, of unknown origin. The modern pronunciation is remodelled after modern French buffet.

This word in other languages

bufé(Español)buffet(Français)Anrichte(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: bbuffet,bfufet,bufeft,bufet,buffte,ubffet

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of buffet - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

bbuffet1bfufet2bufeft2bufet1buffte2ubffet2
Edit distance from "buffet"

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 "buffet"?
"buffet" is spelled B-U-F-F-E-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈbʊf.eɪ/.
What does "buffet" mean?
As a noun, "buffet" means: A counter or sideboard from which food and drinks are served or may be bought.
What words are commonly confused with "buffet"?
"buffet" is commonly confused with "buffy", "buffs", "bullet". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "buffet"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "buffet" is /ˈbʊf.eɪ/. 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 "buffet"?
Inherited from Middle English buffet (“stool”), from Middle French buffet (“side table”), from Old French buffet, of unknown origin. The modern pronunciation is remodelled after modern French buffet. 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 “buffet”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is B-U-F-F-E-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈbʊf.eɪ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “buffy” - see the side-by-side comparison. buffet vs buffy
  • 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