hibiscus

/hɪˈbɪskəs/

//hɪˈbɪskəs// noun

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

"hibiscus" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“hibiscus” has 12 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #38,885. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#38,885
frequency rank, English
23,837
“H” headwords
12
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A flowering plant of the genus Hibiscus, especially Hibiscus syriacus, found in tropical to temperate regions, of some species used for making infusions/tea.

Key facts for hibiscus
PropertyValue
Headwordhibiscus
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/hɪˈbɪskəs/
Letters8
Frequency rank#38,885
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “hibiscus” 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). hibiscus 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 12 spelling variants around hibiscus (IPA /hɪˈbɪskəs/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #38,885 among 23,837 “H” headwords. Wiktionary lists 2 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for hibiscus, with forms such as "hbiiscus", "hhibiscus", and "hibbiscus". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Late Latin hibiscus, from Latin hibiscum, from Ancient Greek ἰβίσκος (ibískos, “marsh mallow”), probably ultimately from Gaulish. The correct English form is hibiscus, spelled H-I-B-I-S-C-U-S.

Definition

  1. 1
    A flowering plant of the genus Hibiscus, especially Hibiscus syriacus, found in tropical to temperate regions, of some species used for making infusions/tea.
  2. 2
    A cocktail made with champagne and cranberry juice.

Etymology

From Late Latin hibiscus, from Latin hibiscum, from Ancient Greek ἰβίσκος (ibískos, “marsh mallow”), probably ultimately from Gaulish.

This word in other languages

hibisco(Español)hibiscus(Français)Hibiskus(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • hbiiscus
  • hhibiscus
  • hibbiscus
  • hibicsus
  • hibisccus
  • hibiscsu
  • hibiscuss
  • hibisscus
  • hibisucs
  • hibsicus
  • hiibscus
  • ihbiscus

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of hibiscus - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

hbiiscus2hhibiscus1hibbiscus1hibicsus2hibisccus1hibiscsu2hibiscuss1hibisscus1
Edit distance from "hibiscus"

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 "hibiscus"?
"hibiscus" is spelled H-I-B-I-S-C-U-S. The IPA pronunciation is /hɪˈbɪskəs/.
What does "hibiscus" mean?
As a noun, "hibiscus" means: A flowering plant of the genus Hibiscus, especially Hibiscus syriacus, found in tropical to temperate regions, of some species used for making infusions/tea.
What are common misspellings of "hibiscus"?
Common misspellings include "hbiiscus", "hhibiscus", "hibbiscus", "hibicsus", "hibisccus". The correct spelling is "hibiscus".
How do you pronounce "hibiscus"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "hibiscus" is /hɪˈbɪskəs/. 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 "hibiscus"?
From Late Latin hibiscus, from Latin hibiscum, from Ancient Greek ἰβίσκος (ibískos, “marsh mallow”), probably ultimately from Gaulish. 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 “hibiscus”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is H-I-B-I-S-C-U-S - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /hɪˈbɪskəs/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • 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