kosher

/ˈkəʊʃə/

//ˈkəʊʃə// adj

"kosher" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“kosher” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #20,685 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#20,685
frequency rank, English
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
3
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Fit for use or consumption, in accordance with Jewish law (especially relating to food).

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

kosher vs Kushner
57% similar
kosher vs Kohler
50% similar
kosher vs kisser
67% similar

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

Key facts for kosher
PropertyValue
Headwordkosher
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈkəʊʃə/
Letters6
Frequency rank#20,685
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs3
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “kosher” 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). kosher 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 kosher is 6 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈkəʊʃə/. Corpus data places it at rank #20,685 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 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for kosher, with forms such as "kkosher", "kohser", and "kosehr". 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 3 confusable-pair relationships, "Kushner", "Kohler", "kisser", a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Yiddish כּשר (kosher), from Hebrew כָּשֵׁר (kashér). The correct English form is kosher, spelled K-O-S-H-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    Fit for use or consumption, in accordance with Jewish law (especially relating to food).
  2. 2
    Observant of the rules of kashrut (of a person or establishment).
  3. 3
    In accordance with standards or usual practice.

Etymology

Borrowed from Yiddish כּשר (kosher), from Hebrew כָּשֵׁר (kashér).

Antonyms

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: kkosher,kohser,kosehr,kosherr,koshher,koshre,kossher,ksoher,oksher

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of kosher - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

kkosher1kohser2kosehr2kosherr1koshher1koshre2kossher1ksoher2
Edit distance from "kosher"

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 "kosher"?
"kosher" is spelled K-O-S-H-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkəʊʃə/.
What does "kosher" mean?
As an adjective, "kosher" means: Fit for use or consumption, in accordance with Jewish law (especially relating to food).
What words are commonly confused with "kosher"?
"kosher" is commonly confused with "Kushner", "Kohler", "kisser". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "kosher"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "kosher" is /ˈkəʊʃə/. 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 "kosher"?
Borrowed from Yiddish כּשר (kosher), from Hebrew כָּשֵׁר (kashér). 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 “kosher”

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

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