echo

/ˈɛkəʊ/

//ˈɛkəʊ// noun

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

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

The verdict

“echo” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #6,679 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#6,679
frequency rank, English
4
letters
5
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A reflected sound that is heard again by its initial observer.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

echo vs eh
50% similar
echo vs eo
50% similar
echo vs ego
50% similar

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

Key facts for echo
PropertyValue
Headwordecho
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɛkəʊ/
Letters4
Frequency rank#6,679
Misspellings tracked5
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “echo” 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). echo 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 echo is 4 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɛkəʊ/. Corpus data places it at rank #6,679 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 14 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 5 likely wrong-spelling variants for echo, with forms such as "ceho", "eccho", and "echho". 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, "eh", "eo", "ego", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English eccho, ecco, ekko, from Medieval Latin ēccō, from Latin ēchō, from Ancient Greek ἠχώ (ēkhṓ), from ἠχή (ēkhḗ, “sound”). Possibly from the same Proto-Indo-European root as sough. The correct English form is echo, spelled E-C-H-O.

Definition

  1. 1
    A reflected sound that is heard again by its initial observer.
  2. 2
    An utterance repeating what has just been said.
  3. 3
    A device in verse in which a line ends with a word which recalls the sound of the last word of the preceding line.
  4. 4
    Sympathetic recognition; response; answer.
  5. 5
    Something that reflects or hearkens back to an earlier thing.
  6. 6
    An insignificant indirect result; a ripple.
  7. 7
    The displaying on the command line of the command that has just been executed.
  8. 8
    An individual discussion forum using the echomail system.
  9. 9
    Alternative letter-case form of Echo from the NATO/ICAO Phonetic Alphabet.
  10. 10
    A signal, played in the same manner as a trump signal, made by a player who holds four or more trumps (or, as played by some, exactly three trumps) and whose partner has led trumps or signalled for trumps.
  11. 11
    A signal showing the number held of a plain suit when a high card in that suit is led by one's partner.
  12. 12
    An antisemitic punctuation symbol or marking, ((( ))), placed around a name or phrase to indicate the person is Jewish or the entity is controlled by Jewish people; or repurposed or reclaimed to proudly declare one's Jewishness or solidarity with Jews.
  13. 13
    Clipping of echocardiography.
  14. 14
    Clipping of echocardiogram.

Etymology

From Middle English eccho, ecco, ekko, from Medieval Latin ēccō, from Latin ēchō, from Ancient Greek ἠχώ (ēkhṓ), from ἠχή (ēkhḗ, “sound”). Possibly from the same Proto-Indo-European root as sough.

This word in other languages

eco(Español)écho(Français)Echo(Deutsch)eco(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ceho,eccho,echho,ecoh,ehco

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

ceho2eccho1echho1ecoh2ehco2
Edit distance from "echo"

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 "echo"?
"echo" is spelled E-C-H-O. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɛkəʊ/.
What does "echo" mean?
As a noun, "echo" means: A reflected sound that is heard again by its initial observer.
What words are commonly confused with "echo"?
"echo" is commonly confused with "eh", "eo", "ego". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "echo"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "echo" is /ˈɛkəʊ/. 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 "echo"?
From Middle English eccho, ecco, ekko, from Medieval Latin ēccō, from Latin ēchō, from Ancient Greek ἠχώ (ēkhṓ), from ἠχή (ēkhḗ, “sound”). Possibly from the same Proto-Indo-European root as sough. 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 “echo”

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

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