hashtag

/ˈhæʃˌtæɡ/

//ˈhæʃˌtæɡ// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"hashtag" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“hashtag” has 11 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #11,716. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#11,716
frequency rank, English
23,837
“H” headwords
11
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A metadata tag, signaled by a preceding hash sign (#), used to label content.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

hashtag vs hasta
71% similar

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

Key facts for hashtag
PropertyValue
Headwordhashtag
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈhæʃˌtæɡ/
Letters7
Frequency rank#11,716
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “hashtag” 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). hashtag lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 11 spelling variants around hashtag (IPA /ˈhæʃˌtæɡ/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #11,716 among 23,837 “H” headwords. Wiktionary lists 2 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for hashtag, with forms such as "ahshtag", "hahstag", and "hashatg". 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 1 confusable-pair relationship, "hasta", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From earlier hash tag, from hash (sign) + tag. The hash sign # was initially proposed as tag hash by Chris Messina to create groups on Twitter, modeled after the IRC channel prefix. First published use as hash tag by Stowe Boyd in 2007. The correct English form is hashtag, spelled H-A-S-H-T-A-G.

Definition

  1. 1
    A metadata tag, signaled by a preceding hash sign (#), used to label content.
  2. 2
    The hash sign itself, especially when used as part of a hashtag.

Etymology

From earlier hash tag, from hash (sign) + tag. The hash sign # was initially proposed as tag hash by Chris Messina to create groups on Twitter, modeled after the IRC channel prefix. First published use as hash tag by Stowe Boyd in 2007.

This word in other languages

hashtag(Español)mot-clic(Français)Hashtag(Deutsch)marcador(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • ahshtag
  • hahstag
  • hashatg
  • hashhtag
  • hashtagg
  • hashtga
  • hashttag
  • hasshtag
  • hasthag
  • hhashtag
  • hsahtag

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of hashtag - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

ahshtag2hahstag2hashatg2hashhtag1hashtagg1hashtga2hashttag1hasshtag1
Edit distance from "hashtag"

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 "hashtag"?
"hashtag" is spelled H-A-S-H-T-A-G. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈhæʃˌtæɡ/.
What does "hashtag" mean?
As a noun, "hashtag" means: A metadata tag, signaled by a preceding hash sign (#), used to label content.
What words are commonly confused with "hashtag"?
"hashtag" is commonly confused with "hasta". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "hashtag"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "hashtag" is /ˈhæʃˌtæɡ/. 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 "hashtag"?
From earlier hash tag, from hash (sign) + tag. The hash sign # was initially proposed as tag hash by Chris Messina to create groups on Twitter, modeled after the IRC channel prefix. First published use as hash tag by Stowe Boyd in 2007. 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 “hashtag”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is H-A-S-H-T-A-G - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈhæʃˌtæɡ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “hasta” - see the side-by-side comparison. hashtag vs hasta
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Same frequency band

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