intro

/ˈɪntɹoʊ/

//ˈɪntɹoʊ// noun

"intro" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“intro” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #9,487 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#9,487
frequency rank, English
5
letters
6
tracked misspellings
12
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An introduction.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

intro vs int
60% similar
intro vs into
80% similar
intro vs info
60% similar

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

Key facts for intro
PropertyValue
Headwordintro
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈɪntɹoʊ/
Letters5
Frequency rank#9,487
Misspellings tracked6
Confusable pairs12
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “intro” 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). intro 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 intro is 5 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɪntɹoʊ/. Corpus data places it at rank #9,487 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 6 likely wrong-spelling variants for intro, with forms such as "inntro", "inrto", and "intor". 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 12 confusable-pair relationships, "int", "into", "info", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: Clipping of introduction, from Latin intrōductiō (“lead-in, introduction”) – the abbreviation removes the second part of the compound; the first part ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁énteros (“inner, what is inside”). The demoscene sense comes from th… The correct English form is intro, spelled I-N-T-R-O.

Definition

  1. 1
    An introduction.
  2. 2
    The opening sequence at beginning of a film, television program, etc.
  3. 3
    A small demo produced to promote one's demogroup or for a competition.

Etymology

Clipping of introduction, from Latin intrōductiō (“lead-in, introduction”) – the abbreviation removes the second part of the compound; the first part ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁énteros (“inner, what is inside”). The demoscene sense comes from the fact that they were originally prepended to pirated copies of computer games.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: inntro,inrto,intor,intrro,inttro,itnro

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

inntro1inrto2intor2intrro1inttro1itnro2
Edit distance from "intro"

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 "intro"?
"intro" is spelled I-N-T-R-O. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɪntɹoʊ/.
What does "intro" mean?
As a noun, "intro" means: An introduction.
What words are commonly confused with "intro"?
"intro" is commonly confused with "int", "into", "info". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "intro"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "intro" is /ˈɪntɹoʊ/. 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 "intro"?
Clipping of introduction, from Latin intrōductiō (“lead-in, introduction”) – the abbreviation removes the second part of the compound; the first part ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁énteros (“inner, what is inside”). The demoscene sense com... 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 “intro”

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

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