enema

/ˈɛn.ə.mə/

//ˈɛn.ə.mə// noun

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

"enema" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“enema” has 6 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #34,871. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#34,871
frequency rank, English
18,836
“E” headwords
6
tracked misspellings
8
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An injection of fluid into the large intestine by way of the rectum, usually for medical purposes.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

enema vs enemy
80% similar
enema vs enigma
67% similar
enema vs ema
60% similar

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

Key facts for enema
PropertyValue
Headwordenema
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɛn.ə.mə/
Letters5
Frequency rank#34,871
Misspellings tracked6
Confusable pairs8
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “enema” 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). enema lands here:

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

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

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 6 spelling variants around enema (IPA /ˈɛn.ə.mə/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #34,871 among 18,836 “E” headwords. Wiktionary lists 3 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 6 likely wrong-spelling variants for enema, with forms such as "eenma", "eneam", and "enemma". 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 8 confusable-pair relationships, "enemy", "enigma", "ema", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: Learned borrowing from Late Latin enema, itself borrowed from Ancient Greek ἔνεμα (énema, “injection”), from ἐνίημι (eníēmi, “to send in, inject”). The correct English form is enema, spelled E-N-E-M-A.

Definition

  1. 1
    An injection of fluid into the large intestine by way of the rectum, usually for medical purposes.
  2. 2
    The fluid so injected.
  3. 3
    A device for administering such an injection.

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Late Latin enema, itself borrowed from Ancient Greek ἔνεμα (énema, “injection”), from ἐνίημι (eníēmi, “to send in, inject”).

Synonyms

clyster

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • eenma
  • eneam
  • enemma
  • enmea
  • ennema
  • neema

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

eenma2eneam2enemma1enmea2ennema1neema2
Edit distance from "enema"

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 "enema"?
"enema" is spelled E-N-E-M-A. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɛn.ə.mə/.
What does "enema" mean?
As a noun, "enema" means: An injection of fluid into the large intestine by way of the rectum, usually for medical purposes.
What words are commonly confused with "enema"?
"enema" is commonly confused with "enemy", "enigma", "ema". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "enema"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "enema" is /ˈɛn.ə.mə/. 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 "enema"?
Learned borrowing from Late Latin enema, itself borrowed from Ancient Greek ἔνεμα (énema, “injection”), from ἐνίημι (eníēmi, “to send in, inject”). 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 “enema”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is E-N-E-M-A - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈɛn.ə.mə/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “enemy” - see the side-by-side comparison. enema vs enemy
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Same frequency band

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