epitaph

/ˈɛp.ɪˌtɑːf/

//ˈɛp.ɪˌtɑːf// noun

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

"epitaph" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“epitaph” has 10 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #35,709. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#35,709
frequency rank, English
2,246
“E” headwords
10
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - An inscription on a gravestone in memory of the deceased.

Corpus desk

Index EN-epitaph · epitaph · English

epitaph · rank #35,709 · 10 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #35,709
  • LEN-LONG 7 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-MID 10 variants
  • BOOK-MID 2,246
  • PHOTO-FINISH enslave

Nearest frequency peer: enslave (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “epitaph”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “epitaph” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for epitaph
PropertyValue
Headwordepitaph
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɛp.ɪˌtɑːf/
Letters7
Frequency rank#35,709
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “epitaph”

This scale runs from the tiny cluster of words that carry ordinary speech (left) to the long tail of words almost nobody reaches for (right).epitaphlands here:

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

The axis is logarithmic, with each marked tick roughly ten times rarer than the last. Same rarity band neighbours include “enslave” (#35,708), “enquirer” (#35,707), “enhancer” (#35,706). Among 2,246 “E” headwords, “epitaph” is #35,709. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 10 spelling variants around epitaph (IPA /ˈɛp.ɪˌtɑːf/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #35,709 among 2,246 “E” headwords. Wiktionary lists 2 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for epitaph, with forms such as "eiptaph", "epiatph", and "epitahp". 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. 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: From Old French epitafe, from Late Latin epitaphium (“eulogy”), from Ancient Greek ἐπιτάφιος (epitáphios, “relating to a funeral”), from ἐπί (epí, “over”) + τάφος (táphos, “tomb”). By surface analysis epi- + -taph. The correct English form is epitaph, spelled E-P-I-T-A-P-H.

Definition

  1. 1
    An inscription on a gravestone in memory of the deceased.
  2. 2
    A poem or other short text written in memory of a deceased person.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how epitaph appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. The church itself, or at all events the squat and tiny tower, has not altered much since Lamb saw it. But the epitaphs have gone. Search among the ivies and yews of the shady little churchyard will discover a number of flat, weatherworn slabs of stone, but the verses and the signatures have vanished.
  2. Ayot St Lawrence's most famous inhabitant, George Bernard Shaw, moved into the New Rectory in 1906 because, it is said, of a gravestone epitaph in the churchyard. This recorded the death of a woman who lived to be 70 with the comment 'Her time was short'. Shaw thought that a place that considered a life of 70 years short was the right place for him.

Etymology

From Old French epitafe, from Late Latin epitaphium (“eulogy”), from Ancient Greek ἐπιτάφιος (epitáphios, “relating to a funeral”), from ἐπί (epí, “over”) + τάφος (táphos, “tomb”). By surface analysis epi- + -taph.

This word in other languages

epitafio(Español)épitaphe(Français)Grabinschrift(Deutsch)epitáfio(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • eiptaph
  • epiatph
  • epitahp
  • epitaphh
  • epitapph
  • epitpah
  • epittaph
  • eppitaph
  • eptiaph
  • peitaph

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

eiptaph2epiatph2epitahp2epitaphh1epitapph1epitpah2epittaph1eppitaph1
Edit distance from "epitaph"

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 "epitaph"?
"epitaph" is spelled E-P-I-T-A-P-H. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɛp.ɪˌtɑːf/.
What does "epitaph" mean?
As a noun, "epitaph" means: An inscription on a gravestone in memory of the deceased.
What are common misspellings of "epitaph"?
Common misspellings include "eiptaph", "epiatph", "epitahp", "epitaphh", "epitapph". The correct spelling is "epitaph".
How do you pronounce "epitaph"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "epitaph" is /ˈɛp.ɪˌtɑːf/. 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 "epitaph"?
From Old French epitafe, from Late Latin epitaphium (“eulogy”), from Ancient Greek ἐπιτάφιος (epitáphios, “relating to a funeral”), from ἐπί (epí, “over”) + τάφος (táphos, “tomb”). By surface analysis epi- + -taph. 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.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "epitaph", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 7 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

enslave#35,708fiddler#35,719drifter#35,696forlorn#35,723

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (10 here; floor ≥5).

enquirer10 variantsdiverge10 variantsdisobey10 variantsGambino10 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list