eisteddfod

/aɪˈstɛðvɒd/

//aɪˈstɛðvɒd// noun

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

The verdict

“eisteddfod” is uncommon English (frequency #72,269 among 18,836 “E” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#72,269
frequency rank, English
18,836
“E” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Any of several annual festivals in which Welsh poets, dancers, and musicians compete for recognition.

Key facts for eisteddfod
PropertyValue
Headwordeisteddfod
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/aɪˈstɛðvɒd/
Letters10
Frequency rank#72,269
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “eisteddfod” 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). eisteddfod lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

eisteddfod is uncommon English at frequency #72,269 among 18,836 “E” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /aɪˈstɛðvɒd/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for eisteddfod, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. Our dataset records no confusable match here, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: Unadapted borrowing from Welsh eisteddfod (“session”), from eistedd (“to sit”) + bod (“to be”), literally “being sitting”. The correct English form is eisteddfod, spelled E-I-S-T-E-D-D-F-O-D.

Definition

  1. 1
    Any of several annual festivals in which Welsh poets, dancers, and musicians compete for recognition.
  2. 2
    (more generally) An annual performing arts competition, typically for youth.

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from Welsh eisteddfod (“session”), from eistedd (“to sit”) + bod (“to be”), literally “being sitting”.

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 "eisteddfod"?
"eisteddfod" is spelled E-I-S-T-E-D-D-F-O-D. The IPA pronunciation is /aɪˈstɛðvɒd/.
What does "eisteddfod" mean?
As a noun, "eisteddfod" means: Any of several annual festivals in which Welsh poets, dancers, and musicians compete for recognition.
How do you pronounce "eisteddfod"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "eisteddfod" is /aɪˈstɛðvɒd/. 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 "eisteddfod"?
Unadapted borrowing from Welsh eisteddfod (“session”), from eistedd (“to sit”) + bod (“to be”), literally “being sitting”. 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 “eisteddfod”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is E-I-S-T-E-D-D-F-O-D - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /aɪˈstɛðvɒd/ (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

Other uncommon English words near this rank

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