download
/ˈdaʊnˌləʊd/
"download" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“download” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #2,106 in English word frequency and used as a noun.
- #2,106
- frequency rank, English
- 8
- letters
- 12
- tracked misspellings
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A file transfer to a given computer or device from a remote one through a network connection.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | download |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ˈdaʊnˌləʊd/ |
| Letters | 8 |
| Frequency rank | #2,106 |
| Misspellings tracked | 12 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “download” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for download is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈdaʊnˌləʊd/. Corpus data places it at rank #2,106 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for download, with forms such as "ddownload", "donwload", and "dowlnoad". 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. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.
Etymologically, the entry records: From down- + load. Verbal form first appears c. 1962 in the Wichita Falls (Texas) Times. Nominal form first appears c. 1977 in Scientific American. The correct English form is download, spelled D-O-W-N-L-O-A-D.
Definition
- 1A file transfer to a given computer or device from a remote one through a network connection.
- 2A file that has been or is intended to be transferred in this way.
Etymology
From down- + load. Verbal form first appears c. 1962 in the Wichita Falls (Texas) Times. Nominal form first appears c. 1977 in Scientific American.
This word in other languages
Common misspellings
Also misspelled as: ddownload,donwload,dowlnoad,downlaod,downlload,downloadd,downloda,downnload,downolad,dowwnload,dwonload,odwnload
Misspelling Pattern Breakdown
How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of download - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.
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
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Using “download”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is D-O-W-N-L-O-A-D - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˈdaʊnˌləʊd/ (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.