caliche

/kəˈlit͡ʃi/

//kəˈlit͡ʃi// noun

"caliche" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“caliche” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
7
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A crude form of sodium nitrate from South America; used as a fertilizer.

Key facts for caliche
PropertyValue
Headwordcaliche
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/kəˈlit͡ʃi/
Letters7
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “caliche” sits in English frequency

caliche falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for caliche is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /kəˈlit͡ʃi/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Zero misspellings are on record for caliche in our index, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Spanish caliche, from Latin calx (“pebble”); compare chalk. The correct English form is caliche, spelled C-A-L-I-C-H-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    A crude form of sodium nitrate from South America; used as a fertilizer.
  2. 2
    A layer of hard clay subsoil or sedimentary rock; hardpan.

Etymology

From Spanish caliche, from Latin calx (“pebble”); compare chalk.

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "caliche"?
"caliche" is spelled C-A-L-I-C-H-E. The IPA pronunciation is /kəˈlit͡ʃi/.
What does "caliche" mean?
As a noun, "caliche" means: A crude form of sodium nitrate from South America; used as a fertilizer.
How do you pronounce "caliche"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "caliche" is /kəˈlit͡ʃi/. 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 "caliche"?
From Spanish caliche, from Latin calx (“pebble”); compare chalk. 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 “caliche”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is C-A-L-I-C-H-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /kəˈlit͡ʃi/ (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
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