hyssop

/ˈhɪ.səp/

//ˈhɪ.səp// noun

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

The verdict

“hyssop” is an uncommon English word, ranked #98,238 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#98,238
frequency rank, English
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Any of several aromatic bushy herbs, of the genus Hyssopus, native to Southern Europe and once used medicinally.

Key facts for hyssop
PropertyValue
Headwordhyssop
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈhɪ.səp/
Letters6
Frequency rank#98,238
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “hyssop” 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). hyssop 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 hyssop is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈhɪ.səp/. Corpus data places it at rank #98,238 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.

No generated misspelling entries exist for hyssop in our index, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: Via Latin hȳsōpum, from Ancient Greek ὕσσωπος (hússōpos), of Semitic origin. The correct English form is hyssop, spelled H-Y-S-S-O-P.

Definition

  1. 1
    Any of several aromatic bushy herbs, of the genus Hyssopus, native to Southern Europe and once used medicinally.
  2. 2
    Any of several similar plants
  3. 3
    Any of several similar plants:
  4. 4
    The sagebrush (Artemisia spp.).
  5. 5
    A plant used used for sprinkling of blood or water in purification rituals and at Passover, Origanum syriacum.

Etymology

Via Latin hȳsōpum, from Ancient Greek ὕσσωπος (hússōpos), of Semitic origin.

This word in other languages

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 "hyssop"?
"hyssop" is spelled H-Y-S-S-O-P. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈhɪ.səp/.
What does "hyssop" mean?
As a noun, "hyssop" means: Any of several aromatic bushy herbs, of the genus Hyssopus, native to Southern Europe and once used medicinally.
How do you pronounce "hyssop"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "hyssop" is /ˈhɪ.səp/. 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 "hyssop"?
Via Latin hȳsōpum, from Ancient Greek ὕσσωπος (hússōpos), of Semitic origin. 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 “hyssop”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is H-Y-S-S-O-P - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈhɪ.səp/ (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
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