keel over
/ˈkiːl ˈəʊvə(ɹ)/
"keel-over" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“keel over” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a verb - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 9
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Of a vessel: to roll so far on its side that it cannot recover; to capsize or turn turtle.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | keel over |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Verb |
| IPA | /ˈkiːl ˈəʊvə(ɹ)/ |
| Letters | 9 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “keel over” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for keel over is 9 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈkiːl ˈəʊvə(ɹ)/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
Zero misspellings are on record for keel over in our index, suggesting the orthography follows predictable English patterns. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.
Etymologically, the entry records: The original nautical meaning (sense 1) refers to a vessel rolling to the extent that its keel (“a large beam along the underside of the vessel’s hull from bow to stern”) is visible. The correct English form is keel over, spelled K-E-E-L- -O-V-E-R.
Definition
- 1Of a vessel: to roll so far on its side that it cannot recover; to capsize or turn turtle.
- 2To collapse in a faint; to black out, to swoon.
- 3To die.
Etymology
The original nautical meaning (sense 1) refers to a vessel rolling to the extent that its keel (“a large beam along the underside of the vessel’s hull from bow to stern”) is visible.
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you spell "keel over"?
What does "keel over" mean?
How do you pronounce "keel over"?
What is the origin of the word "keel over"?
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Using “keel over”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is K-E-E-L- -O-V-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˈkiːl ˈəʊvə(ɹ)/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- 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.