# elder

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈeldə/ · frequency rank #6,465

## Definitions
1. comparative degree of old: older, greater than another in age or seniority.

## Etymology
From Middle English eldre, from Old English eldra, yldra, ieldra, from Proto-Germanic *alþizô. The vowel change from a to e triggered by the following i is called umlaut or I-mutation.

## Easily confused with
- **ele** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elder-vs-ele)
- **ever** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elder-vs-ever)
- **else** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elder-vs-else)
- **Elie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elder-vs-elie)
- **ended** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elder-vs-ended)
- **enter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elder-vs-enter)
- **ellen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elder-vs-ellen)
- **elves** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elder-vs-elves)
- **ether** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elder-vs-ether)
- **Elmer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elder-vs-elmer)
- **ester** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elder-vs-ester)
- **ember** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elder-vs-ember)
- **Euler** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elder-vs-euler)
- **elude** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elder-vs-elude)
- **ender** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elder-vs-ender)
- **Elgar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elder-vs-elgar)
- **Eldon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elder-vs-eldon)
- **elven** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elder-vs-elven)
- **elders** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elder-vs-elders)
- **eldest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/elder-vs-eldest)

## Common misspellings (7)
`edler`, `eldder`, `elderr`, `eldre`, `eledr`, `ellder`, `leder`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/elder