# jelly

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈd͡ʒɛl.i/ · frequency rank #10,069

## Definitions
1. A dessert made by boiling gelatine (or a plant-based alternative such as agar or carrageenan), sugar and some flavouring (often derived from fruit) and allowing it to set.
2. A clear or translucent fruit preserve, made from fruit juice and set using either naturally occurring, or added, pectin.
3. Clipping of jelly coconut.
4. A savoury substance, derived from meat, that has the same texture as the dessert.
5. Any substance or object having the consistency of the dessert or preserve.
6. A jellyfish.
7. A pretty girl; a girlfriend.
8. A large backside, especially a woman's.
9. Clipping of gelignite.
10. A jelly shoe.
11. Blood.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *gel-
Latin gelū
Proto-Indo-European *-h₂
Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂
Proto-Indo-European *-yéti
Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti
Proto-Italic *-āō
Latin -ō
Latin gelō
▲
Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂
Proto-Indo-European *-tós
Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂tos
Proto-Italic *-ātos
Latin -ātus
Latin -āta
Early Medieval Latin gelāta
Old French geleebor.
Middle English gele
English jelly
Inherited from Middle English gele. Doublet of gelee.

## Easily confused with
- **July** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jelly-vs-july)
- **Jill** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jelly-vs-jill)
- **Jerry** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jelly-vs-jerry)
- **jenny** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jelly-vs-jenny)
- **jolly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jelly-vs-jolly)
- **jerky** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jelly-vs-jerky)
- **jetty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jelly-vs-jetty)
- **Jewry** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jelly-vs-jewry)
- **jell** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jell-vs-jelly)
- **jello** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jello-vs-jelly)

## Common misspellings (6)
`ejlly`, `jellyy`, `jely`, `jelyl`, `jjelly`, `jlely`

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