# massage

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈmæsɑː(d)ʒ/ · frequency rank #7,028

## Definitions
1. The action of rubbing, kneading or hitting someone's body, to help the person relax, prepare for muscular action (as in contact sports) or to relieve aches.
2. The action of rubbing or kneading anything.

## Etymology
From French massage (noun), from masser (“to massage”) (borrowed around the end of the 18th century from Arabic مَسَّ (massa, “feel, touch”), or from Portuguese amassar) + -age. Cognate to German massieren.

## Easily confused with
- **Massie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/massage-vs-massie)
- **message** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/massage-vs-message)
- **massive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/massage-vs-massive)
- **messages** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/massage-vs-messages)
- **massa** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/massa-vs-massage)
- **manage** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/manage-vs-massage)
- **massacre** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/massacre-vs-massage)

## Common misspellings (8)
`amssage`, `masage`, `masasge`, `massaeg`, `massagge`, `massgae`, `mmassage`, `msasage`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/massage