# ginger

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈdʒɪndʒə/ · frequency rank #7,921

## Definitions
1. The pungent aromatic rhizome of a tropical Asian herb, Zingiber officinale, used as a spice and as a stimulant and acarminative.
2. The plant that produces this rhizome.
3. Other species belonging to the same family, Zingiberaceae, especially those of the genus Zingiber
4. A reddish-brown color.
5. A person with reddish hair; a redhead.
6. Vitality, vigour, liveliness (of character).
7. Ginger ale, or can or bottle of such (especially if dry).
8. Any fizzy soft drink, or can or bottle of such; pop; soda.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Old Tamil 𑀇𑀜𑁆𑀘𑀺 (iñci)
Proto-Dravidian *wēr
Old Tamil 𑀯𑁂𑀭𑁆 (vēr)
Old Tamil 𑀇𑀜𑁆𑀘𑀺𑀯𑁂𑀭𑁆 (iñcivēr)bor.
Sauraseni Prakrit 𑀲𑀺𑀁𑀕𑀺𑀯𑁂𑀭 (siṃgivera)der.
Ancient Greek ζιγγίβερις (zingíberis)bor.
Late Latin zingiberi
Late Latin gingiberbor.
Proto-West Germanic *gingiberō
Old English gingifer
▲
Old French gingembreinflu.
Middle English gingivere
Middle English gingere
English ginger
Inherited from Middle English gingere, alteration of gingivere, from Old English gingifer, gingiber (influenced by Old French gingembre), from Medieval Latin gingiber, zingiber, from Latin zingiberi, from Late Ancient Greek ζιγγίβερις (zingíberis), from , ultimately from Old Tamil 𑀇𑀜𑁆𑀘𑀺𑀯𑁂𑀭𑁆 (iñcivēr), a compound of 𑀇𑀜𑁆𑀘𑀺 (iñci, “ginger”) and 𑀯𑁂𑀭𑁆 (vēr, “root”) (compare modern Tamil இஞ்சிவேர் (iñcivēr), from இஞ்சி (iñci, “ginger”) + வேர் (vēr, “root”)).

## Easily confused with
- **giver** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ginger-vs-giver)
- **Gunner** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ginger-vs-gunner)
- **Gunter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ginger-vs-gunter)
- **girder** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ginger-vs-girder)
- **grinder** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ginger-vs-grinder)
- **granger** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ginger-vs-granger)
- **gingerly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ginger-vs-gingerly)
- **gender** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gender-vs-ginger)
- **Geiger** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/geiger-vs-ginger)
- **Ganges** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ganges-vs-ginger)
- **gander** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gander-vs-ginger)

## Common misspellings (9)
`gginger`, `gigner`, `ginegr`, `gingerr`, `gingger`, `gingre`, `ginnger`, `gniger`, `ignger`

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