marshmallow

/mɑːʃˈmæləʊ/

//mɑːʃˈmæləʊ// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"marshmallow" is a 11-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“marshmallow” has 16 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #23,897. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#23,897
frequency rank, English
36,575
“M” headwords
16
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Marsh mallow, a species of mallow, Althaea officinalis, that grows in marshy terrain.

Key facts for marshmallow
PropertyValue
Headwordmarshmallow
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/mɑːʃˈmæləʊ/
Letters11
Frequency rank#23,897
Misspellings tracked16
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “marshmallow” 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). marshmallow lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 16 spelling variants around marshmallow (IPA /mɑːʃˈmæləʊ/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #23,897 among 36,575 “M” headwords. Wiktionary lists 3 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 16 likely wrong-spelling variants for marshmallow, with forms such as "amrshmallow", "marhsmallow", and "marrshmallow". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Old English mersċmealwe, corresponding to marsh + mallow. The correct English form is marshmallow, spelled M-A-R-S-H-M-A-L-L-O-W.

Definition

  1. 1
    Marsh mallow, a species of mallow, Althaea officinalis, that grows in marshy terrain.
  2. 2
    A type of confectionery, originally (since Ancient Egyptian times) made from this plant, but now generally made of sugar or corn syrup, gelatin that has been presoftened in water, gum arabic, flavorings, and sometimes beaten egg whites, all whipped to a spongy consistency.
  3. 3
    Someone who is soft and benign.

Etymology

From Old English mersċmealwe, corresponding to marsh + mallow.

This word in other languages

malvavisco(Español)guimauve(Français)Mäusespeck(Deutsch)merengue(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • amrshmallow
  • marhsmallow
  • marrshmallow
  • marshamllow
  • marshhmallow
  • marshmalloww
  • marshmallwo
  • marshmalolw
  • marshmalow
  • marshmlalow
  • marshmmallow
  • marsmhallow
  • marsshmallow
  • masrhmallow
  • mmarshmallow
  • mrashmallow

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of marshmallow - 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.

amrshmallow2marhsmallow2marrshmallow1marshamllow2marshhmallow1marshmalloww1marshmallwo2marshmalolw2
Edit distance from "marshmallow"

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 "marshmallow"?
"marshmallow" is spelled M-A-R-S-H-M-A-L-L-O-W. The IPA pronunciation is /mɑːʃˈmæləʊ/.
What does "marshmallow" mean?
As a noun, "marshmallow" means: Marsh mallow, a species of mallow, Althaea officinalis, that grows in marshy terrain.
What are common misspellings of "marshmallow"?
Common misspellings include "amrshmallow", "marhsmallow", "marrshmallow", "marshamllow", "marshhmallow". The correct spelling is "marshmallow".
How do you pronounce "marshmallow"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "marshmallow" is /mɑːʃˈmæləʊ/. 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 "marshmallow"?
From Old English mersċmealwe, corresponding to marsh + mallow. 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 “marshmallow”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is M-A-R-S-H-M-A-L-L-O-W - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /mɑːʃˈmæləʊ/ (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

Same frequency band

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