frank

/ˈfɹæŋk/

//ˈfɹæŋk// adj

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

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

The verdict

“frank” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #1,828 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#1,828
frequency rank, English
5
letters
8
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Honest, especially in a manner that seems slightly blunt; candid; not reserved or disguised.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

frank vs funk
60% similar
frank vs fray
60% similar
frank vs frat
60% similar

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

Key facts for frank
PropertyValue
Headwordfrank
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈfɹæŋk/
Letters5
Frequency rank#1,828
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “frank” 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). frank lands here:

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

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

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for frank is 5 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈfɹæŋk/. Corpus data places it at rank #1,828 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for frank, with forms such as "farnk", "ffrank", and "frakn". 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 20 confusable-pair relationships, "funk", "fray", "frat", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English frank, from Old French franc (“free”), in turn from the name of an early Germanic confederation, the Franks, from Proto-West Germanic *frankō (“javelin, spear”). Doublet of Frank, franc, and farang. The correct English form is frank, spelled F-R-A-N-K.

Definition

  1. 1
    Honest, especially in a manner that seems slightly blunt; candid; not reserved or disguised.
  2. 2
    Unmistakable, clinically obvious, self-evident.
  3. 3
    Unbounded by restrictions, limitations, etc.; free.
  4. 4
    Liberal; generous; profuse.
  5. 5
    Unrestrained; loose; licentious.

Etymology

From Middle English frank, from Old French franc (“free”), in turn from the name of an early Germanic confederation, the Franks, from Proto-West Germanic *frankō (“javelin, spear”). Doublet of Frank, franc, and farang.

This word in other languages

franco(Español)franc(Français)ehrlich(Deutsch)franco(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: farnk,ffrank,frakn,frankk,frannk,frnak,frrank,rfank

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

farnk2ffrank1frakn2frankk1frannk1frnak2frrank1rfank2
Edit distance from "frank"

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 "frank"?
"frank" is spelled F-R-A-N-K. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈfɹæŋk/.
What does "frank" mean?
As an adjective, "frank" means: Honest, especially in a manner that seems slightly blunt; candid; not reserved or disguised.
What words are commonly confused with "frank"?
"frank" is commonly confused with "funk", "fray", "frat". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "frank"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "frank" is /ˈfɹæŋk/. 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 "frank"?
From Middle English frank, from Old French franc (“free”), in turn from the name of an early Germanic confederation, the Franks, from Proto-West Germanic *frankō (“javelin, spear”). Doublet of Frank, franc, and farang. 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 “frank”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is F-R-A-N-K - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈfɹæŋk/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “funk” - see the side-by-side comparison. frank vs funk
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
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 FrequencyWords open word-frequency list