# caravan

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈkæɹəvæn/ · frequency rank #12,559

## Definitions
1. A convoy or procession of travellers, their cargo and vehicles, and any pack animals, especially camels crossing a desert.
2. A furnished vehicle towed behind a car, etc., and used as a dwelling when stationary.
3. A group of camels.

## Etymology
From Middle French caravane, from Old French carvane, from Persian کاروان (kârvân), from Middle Persian kʾlwʾn' (kārawān), from Old Persian 𐎣𐎠𐎼 (k-a-r, “people, subjects”).
The word was used to designate a group of people who were travelling by camel or horse on the Silk Road. Doublet of Kairouan.

## Easily confused with
- **craven** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/caravan-vs-craven)
- **Catalan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/caravan-vs-catalan)
- **Cartman** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/caravan-vs-cartman)
- **Canaan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/canaan-vs-caravan)
- **Caracas** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/caracas-vs-caravan)

## Common misspellings (10)
`acravan`, `caarvan`, `caraavn`, `caravann`, `caravna`, `caravvan`, `carravan`, `carvaan`, `ccaravan`, `craavan`

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