double bass

/ˈdʌ.bl̩beɪs/

//ˈdʌ.bl̩beɪs// noun

"double-bass" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“double bass” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
11
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The largest stringed instrument of the violin family.

Key facts for double bass
PropertyValue
Headworddouble bass
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈdʌ.bl̩beɪs/
Letters11
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “double bass” sits in English frequency

double bass falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for double bass is 11 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈdʌ.bl̩beɪs/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

double bass has no tracked misspelling variants, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Our source data has no etymology on file for this entry, so its spelling pattern is best understood through pronunciation rather than a traceable origin. The correct English form is double bass, spelled D-O-U-B-L-E- -B-A-S-S.

Definition

  1. 1
    The largest stringed instrument of the violin family.
  2. 2
    The deepest of all male voices.

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "double bass"?
"double bass" is spelled D-O-U-B-L-E- -B-A-S-S. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈdʌ.bl̩beɪs/.
What does "double bass" mean?
As a noun, "double bass" means: The largest stringed instrument of the violin family.
How do you pronounce "double bass"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "double bass" is /ˈdʌ.bl̩beɪs/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "double bass" come from?
"double bass" is a English word. PlainSpell covers definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German.
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 “double bass”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is D-O-U-B-L-E- -B-A-S-S - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈdʌ.bl̩beɪs/ (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
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