calypso

/kəˈlɪp.səʊ/

//kəˈlɪp.səʊ// noun

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

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

The verdict

“calypso” has 11 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #34,416. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#34,416
frequency rank, English
43,570
“C” headwords
11
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago during the early to the mid-19th century and spread to the rest of the Caribbean Antilles and Venezuela by the mid-20th century.

Key facts for calypso
PropertyValue
Headwordcalypso
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/kəˈlɪp.səʊ/
Letters7
Frequency rank#34,416
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “calypso” 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). calypso 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 11 spelling variants around calypso (IPA /kəˈlɪp.səʊ/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #34,416 among 43,570 “C” headwords. Wiktionary lists 2 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for calypso, with forms such as "aclypso", "callypso", and "calpyso". 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 confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: Originally Trinidad English, an alteration of kaiso, perhaps ultimately of African origin; Allsopp 1996 suggests Ibibio ka iso (“come on”), used to urge dancers on. The spelling reflects a later folk-etymological assimilation with the mythological name Caly… The correct English form is calypso, spelled C-A-L-Y-P-S-O.

Definition

  1. 1
    A style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago during the early to the mid-19th century and spread to the rest of the Caribbean Antilles and Venezuela by the mid-20th century.
  2. 2
    A song in this style of music.

Etymology

Originally Trinidad English, an alteration of kaiso, perhaps ultimately of African origin; Allsopp 1996 suggests Ibibio ka iso (“come on”), used to urge dancers on. The spelling reflects a later folk-etymological assimilation with the mythological name Calypso.

This word in other languages

calipso(Español)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • aclypso
  • callypso
  • calpyso
  • calypos
  • calyppso
  • calypsso
  • calyspo
  • calyypso
  • caylpso
  • ccalypso
  • claypso

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of calypso - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

aclypso2callypso1calpyso2calypos2calyppso1calypsso1calyspo2calyypso1
Edit distance from "calypso"

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 "calypso"?
"calypso" is spelled C-A-L-Y-P-S-O. The IPA pronunciation is /kəˈlɪp.səʊ/.
What does "calypso" mean?
As a noun, "calypso" means: A style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago during the early to the mid-19th century and spread to the rest of the Caribbean Antilles and Venezuela by the mid-20th century.
What are common misspellings of "calypso"?
Common misspellings include "aclypso", "callypso", "calpyso", "calypos", "calyppso". The correct spelling is "calypso".
How do you pronounce "calypso"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "calypso" is /kəˈlɪp.səʊ/. 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 "calypso"?
Originally Trinidad English, an alteration of kaiso, perhaps ultimately of African origin; Allsopp 1996 suggests Ibibio ka iso (“come on”), used to urge dancers on. The spelling reflects a later folk-etymological assimilation with the mythological... 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 “calypso”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is C-A-L-Y-P-S-O - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /kəˈlɪp.səʊ/ (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