buttermilk

/ˈbʌtɚˌmɪlk/

//ˈbʌtɚˌmɪlk// noun

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

"buttermilk" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“buttermilk” has 14 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #30,716. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#30,716
frequency rank, English
31,241
“B” headwords
14
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The liquid left over after producing butter from full cream milk by the churning process, also called traditional buttermilk.

Key facts for buttermilk
PropertyValue
Headwordbuttermilk
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈbʌtɚˌmɪlk/
Letters10
Frequency rank#30,716
Misspellings tracked14
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “buttermilk” 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). buttermilk lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 14 spelling variants around buttermilk (IPA /ˈbʌtɚˌmɪlk/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #30,716 among 31,241 “B” headwords. Wiktionary lists 3 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 14 likely wrong-spelling variants for buttermilk, with forms such as "bbuttermilk", "btutermilk", and "butermilk". 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. Our dataset records no confusable match here, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: Inherited from Middle English butter-melke, equivalent to butter + milk. Cognate with German Low German Bottermelk (“buttermilk”), German Buttermilch (“buttermilk”). The correct English form is buttermilk, spelled B-U-T-T-E-R-M-I-L-K.

Definition

  1. 1
    The liquid left over after producing butter from full cream milk by the churning process, also called traditional buttermilk.
  2. 2
    Cultured buttermilk, a fermented dairy product produced from cow's milk, with a characteristically sour taste.
  3. 3
    A light yellow color, like that of buttermilk.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English butter-melke, equivalent to butter + milk. Cognate with German Low German Bottermelk (“buttermilk”), German Buttermilch (“buttermilk”).

This word in other languages

babeurre(Français)Buttermilch(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • bbuttermilk
  • btutermilk
  • butermilk
  • butetrmilk
  • buttemrilk
  • butterimlk
  • buttermikl
  • buttermilkk
  • buttermillk
  • buttermlik
  • buttermmilk
  • butterrmilk
  • buttremilk
  • ubttermilk

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of buttermilk - 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.

bbuttermilk1btutermilk2butermilk1butetrmilk2buttemrilk2butterimlk2buttermikl2buttermilkk1
Edit distance from "buttermilk"

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 "buttermilk"?
"buttermilk" is spelled B-U-T-T-E-R-M-I-L-K. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈbʌtɚˌmɪlk/.
What does "buttermilk" mean?
As a noun, "buttermilk" means: The liquid left over after producing butter from full cream milk by the churning process, also called traditional buttermilk.
What are common misspellings of "buttermilk"?
Common misspellings include "bbuttermilk", "btutermilk", "butermilk", "butetrmilk", "buttemrilk". The correct spelling is "buttermilk".
How do you pronounce "buttermilk"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "buttermilk" is /ˈbʌtɚˌmɪlk/. 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 "buttermilk"?
Inherited from Middle English butter-melke, equivalent to butter + milk. Cognate with German Low German Bottermelk (“buttermilk”), German Buttermilch (“buttermilk”). 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 “buttermilk”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is B-U-T-T-E-R-M-I-L-K - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈbʌtɚˌmɪlk/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Same frequency band

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