intrigue

/ˈɪntɹiːɡ/

//ˈɪntɹiːɡ// noun

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

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

The verdict

“intrigue” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #18,112 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#18,112
frequency rank, English
8
letters
11
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A complicated or clandestine plot or scheme intended to affect some purpose by secret artifice; conspiracy; stratagem.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

intrigue vs intrigues
89% similar

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

Key facts for intrigue
PropertyValue
Headwordintrigue
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɪntɹiːɡ/
Letters8
Frequency rank#18,112
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “intrigue” 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). intrigue 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 intrigue is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɪntɹiːɡ/. Corpus data places it at rank #18,112 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for intrigue, with forms such as "inntrigue", "inrtigue", and "intirgue". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 1 confusable-pair relationship, "intrigues", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from French intrigue, from Italian intricare, from Latin intrīcō (“I entangle, perplex, embarrass”). Doublet of intricate. The correct English form is intrigue, spelled I-N-T-R-I-G-U-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    A complicated or clandestine plot or scheme intended to affect some purpose by secret artifice; conspiracy; stratagem.
  2. 2
    The plot of a play, poem or romance; the series of complications in which a writer involves their imaginary characters.
  3. 3
    Clandestine intercourse between persons; illicit intimacy; a liaison or affair.

Etymology

Borrowed from French intrigue, from Italian intricare, from Latin intrīcō (“I entangle, perplex, embarrass”). Doublet of intricate.

This word in other languages

intriga(Español)intrigue(Français)Intrige(Deutsch)intriga(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: inntrigue,inrtigue,intirgue,intrgiue,intrigeu,intriggue,intriuge,intrrigue,inttrigue,itnrigue,nitrigue

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

inntrigue1inrtigue2intirgue2intrgiue2intrigeu2intriggue1intriuge2intrrigue1
Edit distance from "intrigue"

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 "intrigue"?
"intrigue" is spelled I-N-T-R-I-G-U-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɪntɹiːɡ/.
What does "intrigue" mean?
As a noun, "intrigue" means: A complicated or clandestine plot or scheme intended to affect some purpose by secret artifice; conspiracy; stratagem.
What words are commonly confused with "intrigue"?
"intrigue" is commonly confused with "intrigues". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "intrigue"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "intrigue" is /ˈɪntɹiːɡ/. 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 "intrigue"?
Borrowed from French intrigue, from Italian intricare, from Latin intrīcō (“I entangle, perplex, embarrass”). Doublet of intricate. 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 “intrigue”

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

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