iceberg

/ˈaɪsbɜːɡ/

//ˈaɪsbɜːɡ// noun

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

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

The verdict

“iceberg” has 10 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #18,341. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#18,341
frequency rank, English
17,902
“I” headwords
10
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The seaward end of a glacier.

Key facts for iceberg
PropertyValue
Headwordiceberg
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈaɪsbɜːɡ/
Letters7
Frequency rank#18,341
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “iceberg” 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). iceberg 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 10 spelling variants around iceberg (IPA /ˈaɪsbɜːɡ/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #18,341 among 17,902 “I” headwords. Wiktionary lists 6 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for iceberg, with forms such as "cieberg", "icbeerg", and "icceberg". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: Partial calque of Dutch ijsberg (compound of ijs (“ice”) + berg (“mountain”)), from Middle Dutch ijsberch. First used to describe a glacier as seen at a distance from a ship then used as a term to describe the floating chunks of ice broken off from such gla… The correct English form is iceberg, spelled I-C-E-B-E-R-G.

Definition

  1. 1
    The seaward end of a glacier.
  2. 2
    A huge mass of ocean-floating ice which has broken off a glacier or ice shelf
  3. 3
    An aloof person.
  4. 4
    An impending disastrous event whose adverse effects are only beginning to show.
  5. 5
    A topic that is more convoluted and fractal than it may seem.
  6. 6
    A topic that is more convoluted and fractal than it may seem.

Etymology

Partial calque of Dutch ijsberg (compound of ijs (“ice”) + berg (“mountain”)), from Middle Dutch ijsberch. First used to describe a glacier as seen at a distance from a ship then used as a term to describe the floating chunks of ice broken off from such glaciers. Cognate to German Eisberg, Danish isbjerg, Norwegian isberg and Swedish isberg. Figurative senses in reference to the fact that only one-tenth of an iceberg is usually visible above water.

This word in other languages

banquisa(Español)iceberg(Français)Eisberg(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • cieberg
  • icbeerg
  • icceberg
  • icebberg
  • icebegr
  • icebergg
  • iceberrg
  • icebreg
  • iceebrg
  • iecberg

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of iceberg - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

cieberg2icbeerg2icceberg1icebberg1icebegr2icebergg1iceberrg1icebreg2
Edit distance from "iceberg"

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 "iceberg"?
"iceberg" is spelled I-C-E-B-E-R-G. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈaɪsbɜːɡ/.
What does "iceberg" mean?
As a noun, "iceberg" means: The seaward end of a glacier.
What are common misspellings of "iceberg"?
Common misspellings include "cieberg", "icbeerg", "icceberg", "icebberg", "icebegr". The correct spelling is "iceberg".
How do you pronounce "iceberg"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "iceberg" is /ˈaɪsbɜːɡ/. 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 "iceberg"?
Partial calque of Dutch ijsberg (compound of ijs (“ice”) + berg (“mountain”)), from Middle Dutch ijsberch. First used to describe a glacier as seen at a distance from a ship then used as a term to describe the floating chunks of ice broken off fro... 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 “iceberg”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is I-C-E-B-E-R-G - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈaɪsbɜːɡ/ (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