# encourage

> English word · Verb · IPA /ɪnˈkʌɹ.ɪd͡ʒ/ · frequency rank #3,295

## Definitions
1. To mentally support; to motivate, give courage, hope or spirit.
2. To spur on, strongly recommend.
3. To foster, give help or patronage.

## Etymology
From Middle English encouragen, encoragen, from Anglo-Norman encoragier, from Old French encoragier. Displaced native Old English hiertan, tyhtan, and trymman. By surface analysis, en- + courage.

## Easily confused with
- **entourage** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/encourage-vs-entourage)
- **encouraged** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/encourage-vs-encouraged)

## Common misspellings (12)
`ecnourage`, `enccourage`, `encoruage`, `encouarge`, `encouraeg`, `encouragge`, `encourgae`, `encourrage`, `encuorage`, `enncourage`, `enocurage`, `necourage`

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