curb

/kɝb/

//kɝb// noun

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

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

The verdict

“curb” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #9,728 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#9,728
frequency rank, English
4
letters
6
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A concrete margin along the edge of a road; a kerb (UK, Australia, New Zealand).

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

curb vs cut
50% similar
curb vs cuz
50% similar
curb vs cute
50% similar

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

Key facts for curb
PropertyValue
Headwordcurb
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/kɝb/
Letters4
Frequency rank#9,728
Misspellings tracked6
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “curb” 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). curb 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 curb is 4 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /kɝb/. Corpus data places it at rank #9,728 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 6 likely wrong-spelling variants for curb, with forms such as "ccurb", "crub", and "cubr". 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. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "cut", "cuz", "cute", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle French courbe (“curve, curved object”), from Latin curvus (“bent, crooked, curved”). Doublet of curve. The correct English form is curb, spelled C-U-R-B.

Definition

  1. 1
    A concrete margin along the edge of a road; a kerb (UK, Australia, New Zealand).
  2. 2
    A raised margin along the edge of something, such as a well or the eye of a dome, as a strengthening.
  3. 3
    Something that checks or restrains; a restraint.
  4. 4
    A riding or driving bit for a horse that has rein action which amplifies the pressure in the mouth by leverage advantage placing pressure on the poll via the crown piece of the bridle and chin groove via a curb chain.
  5. 5
    A sidewalk, covered or partially enclosed, bordering the airport terminal road system with adjacent paved areas to permit vehicles to off-load or load passengers.
  6. 6
    A swelling on the back part of the hind leg of a horse, just behind the lowest part of the hock joint, generally causing lameness.

Etymology

From Middle French courbe (“curve, curved object”), from Latin curvus (“bent, crooked, curved”). Doublet of curve.

This word in other languages

freno(Español)Beschränkung(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ccurb,crub,cubr,curbb,currb,ucrb

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

ccurb1crub2cubr2curbb1currb1ucrb2
Edit distance from "curb"

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 "curb"?
"curb" is spelled C-U-R-B. The IPA pronunciation is /kɝb/.
What does "curb" mean?
As a noun, "curb" means: A concrete margin along the edge of a road; a kerb (UK, Australia, New Zealand).
What words are commonly confused with "curb"?
"curb" is commonly confused with "cut", "cuz", "cute". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "curb"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "curb" is /kɝb/. 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 "curb"?
From Middle French courbe (“curve, curved object”), from Latin curvus (“bent, crooked, curved”). Doublet of curve. 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 “curb”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is C-U-R-B - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /kɝb/ (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. curb 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