dandruff

/ˈdændɹʌf/

//ˈdændɹʌf// noun

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

"dandruff" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“dandruff” has 11 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #44,149. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#44,149
frequency rank, English
26,416
“D” headwords
11
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - scaly white dead skin flakes from the human scalp; Pityriasis capitis

Key facts for dandruff
PropertyValue
Headworddandruff
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈdændɹʌf/
Letters8
Frequency rank#44,149
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “dandruff” 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). dandruff 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 11 spelling variants around dandruff (IPA /ˈdændɹʌf/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #44,149 among 26,416 “D” headwords. Dominant gloss: "scaly white dead skin flakes from the human scalp; Pityriasis capitis".

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for dandruff, with forms such as "adndruff", "dadnruff", and "danddruff". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

Etymologically, the entry records: The word is first attested in 1545; the first element is obscure, but compare Yorkshire dialect, dander (skin scurf). The second element derives from a Northumbrian or East Anglian term huff or hruff, hurf (“scab”), from Old Norse hrufa. Compare Dutch roof,… The correct English form is dandruff, spelled D-A-N-D-R-U-F-F.

Definition

  1. 1
    scaly white dead skin flakes from the human scalp; Pityriasis capitis

Etymology

The word is first attested in 1545; the first element is obscure, but compare Yorkshire dialect, dander (skin scurf). The second element derives from a Northumbrian or East Anglian term huff or hruff, hurf (“scab”), from Old Norse hrufa. Compare Dutch roof, Luxembourgish Roff. Related with Proto-Germanic *hreubaz, *hreufaz (“rough, scabby”), source of Old English hrēofla (“leprosy, leper”). More at reef (etymology 3).

Synonyms

scurf

This word in other languages

caspa(Español)pellicules(Français)Schuppen(Deutsch)caspa(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • adndruff
  • dadnruff
  • danddruff
  • dandrfuf
  • dandrruff
  • dandruf
  • dandurff
  • danndruff
  • danrduff
  • ddandruff
  • dnadruff

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

adndruff2dadnruff2danddruff1dandrfuf2dandrruff1dandruf1dandurff2danndruff1
Edit distance from "dandruff"

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 "dandruff"?
"dandruff" is spelled D-A-N-D-R-U-F-F. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈdændɹʌf/.
What does "dandruff" mean?
As a noun, "dandruff" means: scaly white dead skin flakes from the human scalp; Pityriasis capitis
What are common misspellings of "dandruff"?
Common misspellings include "adndruff", "dadnruff", "danddruff", "dandrfuf", "dandrruff". The correct spelling is "dandruff".
How do you pronounce "dandruff"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "dandruff" is /ˈdændɹʌf/. 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 "dandruff"?
The word is first attested in 1545; the first element is obscure, but compare Yorkshire dialect, dander (skin scurf). The second element derives from a Northumbrian or East Anglian term huff or hruff, hurf (“scab”), from Old Norse hrufa. Compare D... 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 “dandruff”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is D-A-N-D-R-U-F-F - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈdændɹʌf/ (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

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