# gulf

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɡʌlf/ · frequency rank #4,454

## Definitions
1. A hollow place in the earth; an abyss; a deep chasm or basin.
2. That which swallows; the gullet.
3. That which swallows irretrievably; a whirlpool; a sucking eddy.
4. A portion of an ocean or sea extending into the land; a partially landlocked sea
5. A large deposit of ore in a lode.
6. A wide interval or gap; a separating space.
7. A difference, especially a large difference, between groups.
8. The bottom part of a list of those awarded a degree, for those who have only just passed.

## Etymology
From Middle English gulf, goulf, golf, from Old French golf, from Italian golfo, from Late Latin colfos, from Ancient Greek κόλπος (kólpos, “bosom, gulf”), of obscure origin, but possibly from Proto-Indo-European *kʷelp- (“to curve, arch”).

## Easily confused with
- **guy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gulf-vs-guy)
- **gun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gulf-vs-gun)
- **gut** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gulf-vs-gut)
- **gum** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gulf-vs-gum)
- **Gus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gulf-vs-gus)
- **Guo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gulf-vs-guo)
- **guys** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gulf-vs-guys)
- **guns** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gulf-vs-guns)
- **guru** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gulf-vs-guru)
- **guts** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gulf-vs-guts)
- **Gunn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gulf-vs-gunn)
- **gums** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gulf-vs-gums)
- **gust** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gulf-vs-gust)
- **gump** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gulf-vs-gump)
- **gull** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gulf-vs-gull)
- **gulp** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gulf-vs-gulp)
- **gush** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gulf-vs-gush)
- **gurl** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gulf-vs-gurl)
- **gully** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gulf-vs-gully)
- **gulls** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gulf-vs-gulls)

## Common misspellings (6)
`ggulf`, `gluf`, `gufl`, `gulff`, `gullf`, `uglf`

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