hiccup

/ˈhɪkʌp/

//ˈhɪkʌp// noun

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

"hiccup" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“hiccup” has 7 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #32,436. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#32,436
frequency rank, English
2,646
“H” headwords
7
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A spasm of the diaphragm, or the resulting sound.

Corpus desk

Index EN-hiccup · hiccup · English

hiccup · rank #32,436 · 7 variants · 1 confusable

  • FREQ-MID #32,436
  • LEN-LONG 6 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-LOW 1 pairs
  • VAR-MID 7 variants
  • BOOK-MID 2,646
  • PHOTO-FINISH henchman

Nearest frequency peer: henchman (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “hiccup”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “hiccup” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

hiccup vs hiccups
86% similar

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

Key facts for hiccup
PropertyValue
Headwordhiccup
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈhɪkʌp/
Letters6
Frequency rank#32,436
Misspellings tracked7
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “hiccup”

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).hiccuplands here:

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

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Same rarity band neighbours include “henchman” (#32,435), “Hoffmann” (#32,437), “helpline” (#32,434). Among 2,646 “H” headwords, “hiccup” is #32,436. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 7 spelling variants around hiccup (IPA /ˈhɪkʌp/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #32,436 among 2,646 “H” headwords. Wiktionary lists 4 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 7 likely wrong-spelling variants for hiccup, with forms such as "hcicup", "hhiccup", and "hiccpu". 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. It also participates in 1 confusable-pair relationship, "hiccups", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From earlier hickop, alteration of earlier hicket, hyckock, from hic (onomatopoeic) + -ock (diminutive suffix). Akin to Scots hick, hix (“hiccup”), West Frisian hik (“hiccup”), Dutch hik (“hiccup”), Middle Low German hükup, huckup, hueckup (modern Low Germa… The correct English form is hiccup, spelled H-I-C-C-U-P.

Definition

  1. 1
    A spasm of the diaphragm, or the resulting sound.
  2. 2
    A spasm of the diaphragm, or the resulting sound.
  3. 3
    Any spasm or sudden change.
  4. 4
    A minor obstacle or setback.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how hiccup appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. There was a loud hiccup from the back of the room and the class erupted in laughter.
  2. Albert didn't notice the switch, the subliminal flash and hiccup in time as the man he had been talking to only seconds before was catapulted backwards half an hour.

Etymology

From earlier hickop, alteration of earlier hicket, hyckock, from hic (onomatopoeic) + -ock (diminutive suffix). Akin to Scots hick, hix (“hiccup”), West Frisian hik (“hiccup”), Dutch hik (“hiccup”), Middle Low German hükup, huckup, hueckup (modern Low German hick (“hiccup”)), German hicksen (“to hiccup”, verb), Alemannic German Hidsgi (“hiccup”), Danish hikke (“hiccup”), Swedish hicka (“hiccup”), hicka (“to hiccup”, verb), Icelandic hiksti (“hiccup”). Displaced yex, from Middle English yexen, ȝisken, ȝixen, ȝoxen (“to hiccup”), from Old English ġiscian, ġeocsian (“to hiccup”).

This word in other languages

hipo(Español)hoquet(Français)soluço(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • hcicup
  • hhiccup
  • hiccpu
  • hiccupp
  • hicucp
  • hicup
  • ihccup

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of hiccup - 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.

hcicup2hhiccup1hiccpu2hiccupp1hicucp2hicup1ihccup2
Edit distance from "hiccup"

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 "hiccup"?
"hiccup" is spelled H-I-C-C-U-P. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈhɪkʌp/.
What does "hiccup" mean?
As a noun, "hiccup" means: A spasm of the diaphragm, or the resulting sound.
What words are commonly confused with "hiccup"?
"hiccup" is commonly confused with "hiccups". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "hiccup"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "hiccup" is /ˈhɪkʌp/. 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 "hiccup"?
From earlier hickop, alteration of earlier hicket, hyckock, from hic (onomatopoeic) + -ock (diminutive suffix). Akin to Scots hick, hix (“hiccup”), West Frisian hik (“hiccup”), Dutch hik (“hiccup”), Middle Low German hükup, huckup, hueckup (modern... 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.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "hiccup", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 6 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

grills#32,420Ivanka#32,456fusing#32,405lactic#32,470

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (7 here; floor ≥5).

Hagan7 variantsgecko7 variantsFinney7 variantslathe7 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list