mandala

/ˈmʌn.də.lə/

//ˈmʌn.də.lə// noun

"mandala" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“mandala” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #38,034 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#38,034
frequency rank, English
7
letters
10
tracked misspellings
7
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A graphic depiction of the spiritual universe and its myriad realms and deities.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

mandala vs manual
71% similar
mandala vs Manila
57% similar
mandala vs masala
71% similar

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

Key facts for mandala
PropertyValue
Headwordmandala
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈmʌn.də.lə/
Letters7
Frequency rank#38,034
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs7
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “mandala” 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). mandala 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 mandala is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈmʌn.də.lə/. Corpus data places it at rank #38,034 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 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for mandala, with forms such as "amndala", "madnala", and "manadla". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 7 confusable-pair relationships, "manual", "Manila", "masala", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Sanskrit मण्डल (máṇḍala). Doublet of mandal. The correct English form is mandala, spelled M-A-N-D-A-L-A.

Definition

  1. 1
    A graphic depiction of the spiritual universe and its myriad realms and deities.
  2. 2
    Any ritualistic geometric design, symbolic of the Universe, used as an aid to meditation.
  3. 3
    A division or book of the Rigveda (of which there are ten).

Etymology

Borrowed from Sanskrit मण्डल (máṇḍala). Doublet of mandal.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: amndala,madnala,manadla,mandaal,mandalla,manddala,mandlaa,manndala,mmandala,mnadala

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of mandala - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

amndala2madnala2manadla2mandaal2mandalla1manddala1mandlaa2manndala1
Edit distance from "mandala"

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 "mandala"?
"mandala" is spelled M-A-N-D-A-L-A. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈmʌn.də.lə/.
What does "mandala" mean?
As a noun, "mandala" means: A graphic depiction of the spiritual universe and its myriad realms and deities.
What words are commonly confused with "mandala"?
"mandala" is commonly confused with "manual", "Manila", "masala". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "mandala"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "mandala" is /ˈmʌn.də.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 "mandala"?
Borrowed from Sanskrit मण्डल (máṇḍala). Doublet of mandal. 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 “mandala”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is M-A-N-D-A-L-A - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈmʌn.də.lə/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “manual” - see the side-by-side comparison. mandala vs manual
  • 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