dildo

/ˈdɪldəʊ/

//ˈdɪldəʊ// noun

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

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

The verdict

“dildo” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #17,121 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#17,121
frequency rank, English
5
letters
7
tracked misspellings
15
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A device used for sexual penetration or another sexual activity.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

dildo vs dino
60% similar
dildo vs dill
60% similar
dildo vs dodo
60% similar

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

Key facts for dildo
PropertyValue
Headworddildo
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈdɪldəʊ/
Letters5
Frequency rank#17,121
Misspellings tracked7
Confusable pairs15
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “dildo” 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). dildo 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 dildo is 5 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈdɪldəʊ/. Corpus data places it at rank #17,121 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 7 likely wrong-spelling variants for dildo, with forms such as "ddildo", "didlo", and "dilddo". 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 15 confusable-pair relationships, "dino", "dill", "dodo", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: Unclear; possibly an alteration of English diddle. Compare the use as an expressive nonsense syllable in often sexual songs and the spelling dil doul, found in e.g. The Maids Complaint for want of a Dil Doul, a song in the library of Samuel Pepys. Unlikely … The correct English form is dildo, spelled D-I-L-D-O.

Definition

  1. 1
    A device used for sexual penetration or another sexual activity.
  2. 2
    A device used for sexual penetration or another sexual activity.
  3. 3
    Any device or implement.
  4. 4
    An idiot; a bore.
  5. 5
    A columnar cactus of the West Indies (Pilosocereus royenii).

Etymology

Unclear; possibly an alteration of English diddle. Compare the use as an expressive nonsense syllable in often sexual songs and the spelling dil doul, found in e.g. The Maids Complaint for want of a Dil Doul, a song in the library of Samuel Pepys. Unlikely to be related to Italian diletto (“delight”) or Latin dīlātō (“I open up, spread”), often cited etymologies.

This word in other languages

consolador(Español)godemichet(Français)Dildo(Deutsch)dildo(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ddildo,didlo,dilddo,dilldo,dilod,dlido,idldo

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

ddildo1didlo2dilddo1dilldo1dilod2dlido2idldo2
Edit distance from "dildo"

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 "dildo"?
"dildo" is spelled D-I-L-D-O. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈdɪldəʊ/.
What does "dildo" mean?
As a noun, "dildo" means: A device used for sexual penetration or another sexual activity.
What words are commonly confused with "dildo"?
"dildo" is commonly confused with "dino", "dill", "dodo". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "dildo"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "dildo" is /ˈdɪldəʊ/. 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 "dildo"?
Unclear; possibly an alteration of English diddle. Compare the use as an expressive nonsense syllable in often sexual songs and the spelling dil doul, found in e.g. The Maids Complaint for want of a Dil Doul, a song in the library of Samuel Pepys.... 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 “dildo”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is D-I-L-D-O - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈdɪldəʊ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “dino” - see the side-by-side comparison. dildo vs dino
  • 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