lunula

/ˈlun.ju.lə/

//ˈlun.ju.lə// noun

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

The verdict

“lunula” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - Something shaped like a crescent or half-moon; especially the pale area at the base of the fingernail.

Corpus desk

Index EN-lunula · lunula · English

lunula · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-LONG 6 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "L" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for lunula
PropertyValue
Headwordlunula
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈlun.ju.lə/
Letters6
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “lunula” in English

lunulafalls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

lunula is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈlun.ju.lə/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.

lunula doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin lūnula. The correct English form is lunula, spelled L-U-N-U-L-A.

Definition

  1. 1
    Something shaped like a crescent or half-moon; especially the pale area at the base of the fingernail.
  2. 2
    A crescent moon-shaped pendant worn by girls in Ancient Rome.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin lūnula.

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 "lunula"?
"lunula" is spelled L-U-N-U-L-A. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈlun.ju.lə/.
What does "lunula" mean?
As a noun, "lunula" means: Something shaped like a crescent or half-moon; especially the pale area at the base of the fingernail.
How do you pronounce "lunula"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "lunula" is /ˈlun.ju.lə/. 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 "lunula"?
Borrowed from Latin lūnula. 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.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list