crypt

/kɹɪpt/

//kɹɪpt// noun

"crypt" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“crypt” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #25,342 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#25,342
frequency rank, English
5
letters
9
tracked misspellings
18
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A cave or cavern.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

crypt vs cyst
60% similar
crypt vs crypto
83% similar
crypt vs cryptic
71% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for crypt
PropertyValue
Headwordcrypt
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/kɹɪpt/
Letters5
Frequency rank#25,342
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs18
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “crypt” 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). crypt lands here:

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

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

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for crypt is 5 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /kɹɪpt/. Corpus data places it at rank #25,342 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for crypt, with forms such as "ccrypt", "crpyt", and "crrypt". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 18 confusable-pair relationships, "cyst", "crypto", "cryptic", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: Learned borrowing from Latin crypta (“vault”), from Ancient Greek κρυπτός (kruptós, “hidden”). Doublet of grotto. The correct English form is crypt, spelled C-R-Y-P-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    A cave or cavern.
  2. 2
    An underground vault.
  3. 3
    An underground vault.
  4. 4
    A small pit or cavity in the surface of an organ or other structure.
  5. 5
    Any of the genus Cryptocoryne of aquatic plants of southern and southeastern Asia.
  6. 6
    Any of the genus Cryptopus of orchids of Madagascar and Mauritius.

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin crypta (“vault”), from Ancient Greek κρυπτός (kruptós, “hidden”). Doublet of grotto.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ccrypt,crpyt,crrypt,cryppt,cryptt,crytp,cryypt,cyrpt,rcypt

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

ccrypt1crpyt2crrypt1cryppt1cryptt1crytp2cryypt1cyrpt2
Edit distance from "crypt"

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 "crypt"?
"crypt" is spelled C-R-Y-P-T. The IPA pronunciation is /kɹɪpt/.
What does "crypt" mean?
As a noun, "crypt" means: A cave or cavern.
What words are commonly confused with "crypt"?
"crypt" is commonly confused with "cyst", "crypto", "cryptic". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "crypt"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "crypt" is /kɹɪpt/. 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 "crypt"?
Learned borrowing from Latin crypta (“vault”), from Ancient Greek κρυπτός (kruptós, “hidden”). Doublet of grotto. 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 “crypt”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is C-R-Y-P-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /kɹɪpt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “cyst” - see the side-by-side comparison. crypt vs cyst
  • 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