gusto

/ˈɡʌstəʊ/

//ˈɡʌstəʊ// noun

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

The verdict

“gusto” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #28,940 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#28,940
frequency rank, English
5
letters
7
tracked misspellings
19
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Enthusiasm; enjoyment, vigor.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

gusto vs gut
60% similar
gusto vs guts
60% similar
gusto vs gusts
80% similar

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

Key facts for gusto
PropertyValue
Headwordgusto
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɡʌstəʊ/
Letters5
Frequency rank#28,940
Misspellings tracked7
Confusable pairs19
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “gusto” 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). gusto 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 gusto is 5 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɡʌstəʊ/. Corpus data places it at rank #28,940 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 7 likely wrong-spelling variants for gusto, with forms such as "ggusto", "gsuto", and "gusot". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 19 confusable-pair relationships, "gut", "guts", "gusts", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Italian gusto, from Latin gustus (“taste”). Doublet of cost (see Etymology 3 there). The correct English form is gusto, spelled G-U-S-T-O.

Definition

  1. 1
    Enthusiasm; enjoyment, vigor.
  2. 2
    An individual's fondness or liking of a particular flavour
  3. 3
    The style in which a work is done, artistic style. (occasionally) the prevailing style in matters of taste.
  4. 4
    Aesthetic appreciation.
  5. 5
    (Of food) Flavour or savour

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian gusto, from Latin gustus (“taste”). Doublet of cost (see Etymology 3 there).

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ggusto,gsuto,gusot,gussto,gustto,gutso,ugsto

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

ggusto1gsuto2gusot2gussto1gustto1gutso2ugsto2
Edit distance from "gusto"

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 "gusto"?
"gusto" is spelled G-U-S-T-O. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɡʌstəʊ/.
What does "gusto" mean?
As a noun, "gusto" means: Enthusiasm; enjoyment, vigor.
What words are commonly confused with "gusto"?
"gusto" is commonly confused with "gut", "guts", "gusts". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "gusto"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "gusto" is /ˈɡʌstəʊ/. 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 "gusto"?
Borrowed from Italian gusto, from Latin gustus (“taste”). Doublet of cost (see Etymology 3 there). 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 “gusto”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is G-U-S-T-O - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈɡʌstəʊ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “gut” - see the side-by-side comparison. gusto vs gut
  • 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