# gallon

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɡælən/ · frequency rank #10,369

## Definitions
1. A unit of volume, equivalent to eight pints
2. exactly 4.54609 liters; an imperial gallon
3. 231 cubic inches or approximately 3.785 liters for liquids (a "U.S. liquid gallon")
4. one-eighth of a U.S. bushel or approximately 4.405 liters for dry goods (a "U.S. dry gallon").
5. A large quantity (of any liquid).

## Etymology
From Middle English gallon, galoun, galun, from Old Northern French galun, galon (“liquid measure”) (compare Old French jalon), from Late Latin galum, galus (“measure of wine”), from Vulgar Latin *galla (“vessel”), possibly from Gaulish *galla, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kel- (“goblet”).
Cognate with Ancient Greek κύλιξ (kúlix, “cup”), Sanskrit कलश (kalaśa, “jar, pitcher; measure of liquid”). Related to Old French gille (“wine measure”) (from Medieval Latin gillō (“earthenware jar”)), Old French jale (“bowl”), Old French jaloie (“measure of capacity”).

## Easily confused with
- **Gaon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gallon-vs-gaon)
- **Gaston** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gallon-vs-gaston)
- **Gallup** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gallon-vs-gallup)
- **gallop** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gallon-vs-gallop)
- **Gannon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gallon-vs-gannon)
- **Galvin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gallon-vs-galvin)
- **gallows** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gallon-vs-gallows)
- **gall** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gall-vs-gallon)
- **Gallo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gallo-vs-gallon)
- **Galen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/galen-vs-gallon)
- **Gabon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gabon-vs-gallon)
- **galley** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/galley-vs-gallon)
- **Gallic** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gallic-vs-gallon)
- **gallant** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gallant-vs-gallon)
- **galleon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/galleon-vs-gallon)

## Common misspellings (7)
`agllon`, `gallno`, `gallonn`, `galoln`, `galon`, `ggallon`, `glalon`

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