congruous

/ˈkɒŋ.ɡɹuː.əs/

//ˈkɒŋ.ɡɹuː.əs// adj

"congruous" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“congruous” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as an adjective - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
9
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Corresponding in character.

Key facts for congruous
PropertyValue
Headwordcongruous
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈkɒŋ.ɡɹuː.əs/
Letters9
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “congruous” sits in English frequency

congruous 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 congruous is 9 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈkɒŋ.ɡɹuː.əs/. 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 congruous in our index, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English [Term?], from Latin congruus, from congruō (“I coincide with; I agree”). The correct English form is congruous, spelled C-O-N-G-R-U-O-U-S.

Definition

  1. 1
    Corresponding in character.
  2. 2
    Harmonious.

Etymology

From Middle English [Term?], from Latin congruus, from congruō (“I coincide with; I agree”).

This word in other languages

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 "congruous"?
"congruous" is spelled C-O-N-G-R-U-O-U-S. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkɒŋ.ɡɹuː.əs/.
What does "congruous" mean?
As an adjective, "congruous" means: Corresponding in character.
How do you pronounce "congruous"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "congruous" is /ˈkɒŋ.ɡɹuː.əs/. 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 "congruous"?
From Middle English [Term?], from Latin congruus, from congruō (“I coincide with; I agree”). 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 “congruous”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is C-O-N-G-R-U-O-U-S - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈkɒŋ.ɡɹuː.əs/ (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