into

/ˈɪn.tuː/

//ˈɪn.tuː// prep

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

"into" is a 4-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“into” is in the everyday core of English, ranked #83 in English word frequency and used as a preposition.

#83
frequency rank, English
4
letters
5
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To or towards the inside of.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

into vs it
50% similar
into vs io
50% similar
into vs its
50% similar

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

Key facts for into
PropertyValue
Headwordinto
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechPreposition
IPA/ˈɪn.tuː/
Letters4
Frequency rank#83
Misspellings tracked5
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “into” 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). into 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 into is 4 letters long, classified as a preposition, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɪn.tuː/. Corpus data places it at rank #83 in overall English word frequency, putting it firmly in the everyday core of the language. Wiktionary records 11 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 5 likely wrong-spelling variants for into, with forms such as "innto", "inot", and "intto". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "it", "io", "its", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English in-to, from Old English intō, equivalent to in + to. Cognate with Scots intae. The correct English form is into, spelled I-N-T-O.

Definition

  1. 1
    To or towards the inside of.
  2. 2
    To or towards the region of.
  3. 3
    Against, especially with force or violence.
  4. 4
    Indicates transition into another form or substance.
  5. 5
    Indicates division or the creation of subgroups or sections.
  6. 6
    After the start of.
  7. 7
    Interested in or attracted to.
  8. 8
    Expressing the operation of division, with the denominator given first. Usually with "goes".
  9. 9
    Expressing the operation of multiplication.
  10. 10
    Investigating the subject (of).
  11. 11
    Attacking or fighting a person.

Etymology

From Middle English in-to, from Old English intō, equivalent to in + to. Cognate with Scots intae.

This word in other languages

dentro(Español)dans(Français)in(Deutsch)até(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: innto,inot,intto,itno,nito

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

innto1inot2intto1itno2nito2
Edit distance from "into"

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 "into"?
"into" is spelled I-N-T-O. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɪn.tuː/.
What does "into" mean?
As a preposition, "into" means: To or towards the inside of.
What words are commonly confused with "into"?
"into" is commonly confused with "it", "io", "its". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "into"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "into" is /ˈɪn.tuː/. 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 "into"?
From Middle English in-to, from Old English intō, equivalent to in + to. Cognate with Scots intae. 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 “into”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is I-N-T-O - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈɪn.tuː/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “it” - see the side-by-side comparison. into vs it
  • 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