# Janus

> English word · Proper noun · IPA /ˈd͡ʒeɪnəs/ · frequency rank #28,261

## Definitions
1. The god of doorways, gates and transitions, and of beginnings and endings, having two faces looking in opposite directions.
2. Used to indicate things with two faces (such as animals with diprosopus) or aspects; or made of two different materials; or having a two-way action.
3. Used to indicate things with two faces (such as animals with diprosopus) or aspects; or made of two different materials; or having a two-way action.
4. A two-faced person, a hypocrite.
5. A moon of Saturn.

## Etymology
From Latin Iānus (“the Roman god Janus”).

## Easily confused with
- **jus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/janus-vs-jus)
- **Jas** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/janus-vs-jas)
- **jaws** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/janus-vs-jaws)
- **jays** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/janus-vs-jays)
- **jars** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/janus-vs-jars)
- **Jesus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/janus-vs-jesus)
- **Jones** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/janus-vs-jones)
- **jeans** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/janus-vs-jeans)
- **Jonas** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/janus-vs-jonas)
- **Jan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jan-vs-janus)
- **Jane** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jane-vs-janus)
- **jams** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jams-vs-janus)
- **Jang** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jang-vs-janus)
- **Jana** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jana-vs-janus)
- **jabs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jabs-vs-janus)
- **James** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/james-vs-janus)
- **Janet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/janet-vs-janus)
- **jacks** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jacks-vs-janus)
- **jails** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jails-vs-janus)
- **Janis** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/janis-vs-janus)

## Common misspellings (7)
`ajnus`, `jannus`, `jansu`, `januss`, `jauns`, `jjanus`, `jnaus`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/janus