cuticle

/ˈkjuːtɪkəl/

//ˈkjuːtɪkəl// noun

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

"cuticle" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“cuticle” has 10 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #42,078. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#42,078
frequency rank, English
43,570
“C” headwords
10
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The outermost layer of the skin of vertebrates; the epidermis.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

cuticle vs cutie
71% similar
cuticle vs cubicle
86% similar

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

Key facts for cuticle
PropertyValue
Headwordcuticle
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈkjuːtɪkəl/
Letters7
Frequency rank#42,078
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “cuticle” 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). cuticle lands here:

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

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

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 10 spelling variants around cuticle (IPA /ˈkjuːtɪkəl/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #42,078 among 43,570 “C” headwords. Wiktionary lists 6 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for cuticle, with forms such as "ccuticle", "ctuicle", and "cuitcle". 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 2 confusable-pair relationships, "cutie", "cubicle", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle French cuticule, from Latin cuticula (“cuticle, skin”). The correct English form is cuticle, spelled C-U-T-I-C-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    The outermost layer of the skin of vertebrates; the epidermis.
  2. 2
    The strip of hardened skin at the base and sides of a fingernail or toenail.
  3. 3
    Dead or cornified epidermis.
  4. 4
    A noncellular protective covering outside the epidermis of many invertebrates and plants.
  5. 5
    A thin skin formed on the surface of a liquid.
  6. 6
    A protective layer on the shell of a bird's egg.

Etymology

From Middle French cuticule, from Latin cuticula (“cuticle, skin”).

Synonyms

cuticula

This word in other languages

cutícula(Español)cuticule(Français)Nagelhaut(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • ccuticle
  • ctuicle
  • cuitcle
  • cutcile
  • cuticcle
  • cuticel
  • cuticlle
  • cutilce
  • cutticle
  • ucticle

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

ccuticle1ctuicle2cuitcle2cutcile2cuticcle1cuticel2cuticlle1cutilce2
Edit distance from "cuticle"

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 "cuticle"?
"cuticle" is spelled C-U-T-I-C-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkjuːtɪkəl/.
What does "cuticle" mean?
As a noun, "cuticle" means: The outermost layer of the skin of vertebrates; the epidermis.
What words are commonly confused with "cuticle"?
"cuticle" is commonly confused with "cutie", "cubicle". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "cuticle"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "cuticle" is /ˈkjuːtɪkəl/. 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 "cuticle"?
From Middle French cuticule, from Latin cuticula (“cuticle, skin”). 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 “cuticle”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is C-U-T-I-C-L-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈkjuːtɪkəl/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “cutie” - see the side-by-side comparison. cuticle vs cutie
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Same frequency band

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