helix
/ˈhiːlɪks/noun, verb
helix is spelled H-E-L-I-X: 5 letters and 2 syllables. It appears 1.8 times per million words in written English, the 20,629th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, helix means “A curve on the surface of a cylinder or cone such that its angle to a plane perpendicular to the axis is constant; the three-dimensional curve seen…” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of helix is helixes or helices.
How many letters and syllables are in helix?
| Letters | 5: H-E-L-I-X |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 1.8 times per million words; the 20,629th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is helix?
Helix appears 1.8 times per million words in written English, the 20,629th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce helix?
- /ˈhiːlɪks/
Helix has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-helix.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of helix
- helixes plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- helices plural
- helixing participle, present
- helixed participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does helix mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A curve on the surface of a cylinder or cone such that its angle to a plane perpendicular to the axis is constant; the three-dimensional curve seen in a screw or a spiral staircase.
- 2
A small volute under the abacus of a Corinthian capital.
- 3
The incurved rim of the external ear.
helix piercing
- 4
An upside down midair 360° spin in playboating.
verb
- 1
To form or cause to form a helix.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Helix in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does helix come from?
From Latin helix, from Ancient Greek ἕλιξ (hélix, “something twisted or spiral”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).