cube

/kjuːb/

//kjuːb// noun

"cube" is a 4-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“cube” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #9,312 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#9,312
frequency rank, English
4
letters
5
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A regular polyhedron having six identical square faces.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

cube vs cut
50% similar
cube vs cup
50% similar
cube vs cum
50% similar

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

Key facts for cube
PropertyValue
Headwordcube
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/kjuːb/
Letters4
Frequency rank#9,312
Misspellings tracked5
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “cube” 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). cube 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 cube is 4 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /kjuːb/. Corpus data places it at rank #9,312 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 7 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 5 likely wrong-spelling variants for cube, with forms such as "cbue", "ccube", and "cubbe". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "cut", "cup", "cum", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Old French cube, from Latin cubus, from Ancient Greek κύβος (kúbos). The correct English form is cube, spelled C-U-B-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    A regular polyhedron having six identical square faces.
  2. 2
    Any object more or less in the form of a cube.
  3. 3
    The third power of a number, value, term or expression.
  4. 4
    A data structure consisting of a three-dimensional array; a data cube.
  5. 5
    A Rubik's cube style puzzle, not necessarily in the shape of a cube.
  6. 6
    Clipping of cubic inch(es).
  7. 7
    An extremely socially conventional or conservative person, moreso than even a square.

Etymology

From Old French cube, from Latin cubus, from Ancient Greek κύβος (kúbos).

Synonyms

regular hexahedronblockbrickdiesquare blockthird power

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: cbue,ccube,cubbe,cueb,ucbe

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of cube - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

cbue2ccube1cubbe1cueb2ucbe2
Edit distance from "cube"

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 "cube"?
"cube" is spelled C-U-B-E. The IPA pronunciation is /kjuːb/.
What does "cube" mean?
As a noun, "cube" means: A regular polyhedron having six identical square faces.
What words are commonly confused with "cube"?
"cube" is commonly confused with "cut", "cup", "cum". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "cube"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "cube" is /kjuːb/. 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 "cube"?
From Old French cube, from Latin cubus, from Ancient Greek κύβος (kúbos). 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 “cube”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is C-U-B-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /kjuːb/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “cut” - see the side-by-side comparison. cube vs cut
  • 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