# guitar

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɡɪˈtɑː/ · frequency rank #3,106

## Definitions
1. A stringed musical instrument, of European origin, usually with a fretted fingerboard and six strings, played with the fingers or a plectrum (guitar pick).
2. Any type of musical instrument of the lute family, characterized by a flat back, along with a neck whose upper surface is in the same plane as the soundboard, with strings along the neck and parallel to the soundboard.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Ancient Greek κῐθᾰ́ρᾱ (kĭthắrā)bor.
Aramaic קיתראbor.
Arabic قِيثَارَة (qīṯāra)bor.
Old Spanish guitarra
Spanish guitarrabor.
English guitar
From Spanish guitarra, from Arabic قِيثَارَة (qīṯāra), from Ancient Greek κῐθᾰ́ρᾱ (kĭthắrā). Doublet of cithara, cither, and zither.

## Easily confused with
- **Gupta** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/guitar-vs-gupta)
- **gutter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/guitar-vs-gutter)
- **Gustav** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/guitar-vs-gustav)
- **Gunter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/guitar-vs-gunter)
- **Gita** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gita-vs-guitar)

## Common misspellings (8)
`gguitar`, `giutar`, `guiatr`, `guitarr`, `guitra`, `guittar`, `gutiar`, `ugitar`

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