drum

/ˈdɹʌm/

//ˈdɹʌm// noun

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

"drum" is a 4-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“drum” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #5,958 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#5,958
frequency rank, English
4
letters
6
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A percussive musical instrument spanned with a thin covering on at least one end for striking, forming an acoustic chamber; a membranophone.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

drum vs due
50% similar
drum vs dry
50% similar
drum vs duo
50% similar

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

Key facts for drum
PropertyValue
Headworddrum
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈdɹʌm/
Letters4
Frequency rank#5,958
Misspellings tracked6
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “drum” 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). drum 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 drum is 4 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈdɹʌm/. Corpus data places it at rank #5,958 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 9 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 6 likely wrong-spelling variants for drum, with forms such as "ddrum", "drmu", and "drrum". 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 20 confusable-pair relationships, "due", "dry", "duo", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: Perhaps back-formation from drumslade (“drummer”), from Middle Dutch trommelslach (“drumbeat”), from trommel (“drum”) + slach (“beat”) (Dutch slag). Or perhaps borrowed directly from a continental Germanic language; compare Middle Dutch tromme (“drum”), Mid… The correct English form is drum, spelled D-R-U-M.

Definition

  1. 1
    A percussive musical instrument spanned with a thin covering on at least one end for striking, forming an acoustic chamber; a membranophone.
  2. 2
    Any similar hollow, cylindrical object.
  3. 3
    A barrel or large cylindrical container for liquid transport and storage.
  4. 4
    Synonym of construction barrel.
  5. 5
    The encircling wall that supports a dome or cupola.
  6. 6
    Any of the cylindrical blocks that make up the shaft of a pillar.
  7. 7
    A drumfish (family Sciaenidae).
  8. 8
    A tip; a piece of information.
  9. 9
    The ear.

Etymology

Perhaps back-formation from drumslade (“drummer”), from Middle Dutch trommelslach (“drumbeat”), from trommel (“drum”) + slach (“beat”) (Dutch slag). Or perhaps borrowed directly from a continental Germanic language; compare Middle Dutch tromme (“drum”), Middle Low German trumme (“drum”) et al. Compare also Middle High German trumme, trumbe (“drum”), Old High German trumba (“trumpet”).

This word in other languages

tambor(Español)tambour(Français)Trommel(Deutsch)tambor(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ddrum,drmu,drrum,drumm,durm,rdum

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

ddrum1drmu2drrum1drumm1durm2rdum2
Edit distance from "drum"

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 "drum"?
"drum" is spelled D-R-U-M. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈdɹʌm/.
What does "drum" mean?
As a noun, "drum" means: A percussive musical instrument spanned with a thin covering on at least one end for striking, forming an acoustic chamber; a membranophone.
What words are commonly confused with "drum"?
"drum" is commonly confused with "due", "dry", "duo". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "drum"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "drum" is /ˈdɹʌm/. 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 "drum"?
Perhaps back-formation from drumslade (“drummer”), from Middle Dutch trommelslach (“drumbeat”), from trommel (“drum”) + slach (“beat”) (Dutch slag). Or perhaps borrowed directly from a continental Germanic language; compare Middle Dutch tromme (“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 “drum”

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

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