fibula

/ˈfɪb.jʊl.ə/

//ˈfɪb.jʊl.ə// noun

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

"fibula" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“fibula” has 8 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #47,625. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#47,625
frequency rank, English
18,613
“F” headwords
8
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An ancient kind of brooch used to hold clothing together, similar in function to the modern safety pin.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

fibula vs fistula
71% similar

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

Key facts for fibula
PropertyValue
Headwordfibula
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈfɪb.jʊl.ə/
Letters6
Frequency rank#47,625
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “fibula” 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). fibula 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 8 spelling variants around fibula (IPA /ˈfɪb.jʊl.ə/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #47,625 among 18,613 “F” headwords. Wiktionary lists 2 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for fibula, with forms such as "fbiula", "ffibula", and "fibbula". 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 1 confusable-pair relationship, "fistula", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin fībula (“buckle, clasp, pin”). The bone is so named because the shape it makes with the tibia resembles a clasp, the fibula being the pin. The correct English form is fibula, spelled F-I-B-U-L-A.

Definition

  1. 1
    An ancient kind of brooch used to hold clothing together, similar in function to the modern safety pin.
  2. 2
    The smaller of the two bones in the lower leg.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin fībula (“buckle, clasp, pin”). The bone is so named because the shape it makes with the tibia resembles a clasp, the fibula being the pin.

This word in other languages

fíbula(Español)fibule(Français)Fibel(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • fbiula
  • ffibula
  • fibbula
  • fiblua
  • fibual
  • fibulla
  • fiubla
  • ifbula

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

fbiula2ffibula1fibbula1fiblua2fibual2fibulla1fiubla2ifbula2
Edit distance from "fibula"

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 "fibula"?
"fibula" is spelled F-I-B-U-L-A. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈfɪb.jʊl.ə/.
What does "fibula" mean?
As a noun, "fibula" means: An ancient kind of brooch used to hold clothing together, similar in function to the modern safety pin.
What words are commonly confused with "fibula"?
"fibula" is commonly confused with "fistula". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "fibula"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "fibula" is /ˈfɪb.jʊl.ə/. 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 "fibula"?
Borrowed from Latin fībula (“buckle, clasp, pin”). The bone is so named because the shape it makes with the tibia resembles a clasp, the fibula being the pin. 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 “fibula”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is F-I-B-U-L-A - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈfɪb.jʊl.ə/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “fistula” - see the side-by-side comparison. fibula vs fistula
  • 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