mermaid

/ˈmɜːˌmeɪd/

//ˈmɜːˌmeɪd// noun

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

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

The verdict

“mermaid” has 10 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #15,660. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#15,660
frequency rank, English
36,575
“M” headwords
10
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A mythological creature with a woman's head and upper body, and a tail of a fish.

Key facts for mermaid
PropertyValue
Headwordmermaid
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈmɜːˌmeɪd/
Letters7
Frequency rank#15,660
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “mermaid” 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). mermaid 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 10 spelling variants around mermaid (IPA /ˈmɜːˌmeɪd/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #15,660 among 36,575 “M” headwords. Wiktionary lists 3 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for mermaid, with forms such as "emrmaid", "memraid", and "meramid". 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 headword has no recorded confusable partner, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English mermayde (“maid of the sea”), from mere (“sea, lake”) + maid, equivalent to mer- + maid. Cognate with Dutch meermeid (“mermaid”), Middle High German mermaget, mermeit (“mermaid”, > German Meermagd, Meermädchen (“mermaid”)). Compare Old E… The correct English form is mermaid, spelled M-E-R-M-A-I-D.

Definition

  1. 1
    A mythological creature with a woman's head and upper body, and a tail of a fish.
  2. 2
    Coloured a brilliant turquoise.
  3. 3
    A prostitute.

Etymology

From Middle English mermayde (“maid of the sea”), from mere (“sea, lake”) + maid, equivalent to mer- + maid. Cognate with Dutch meermeid (“mermaid”), Middle High German mermaget, mermeit (“mermaid”, > German Meermagd, Meermädchen (“mermaid”)). Compare Old English meremenn, meremennen, meremenin (“mermaid, siren”).

This word in other languages

sirena(Español)sirène(Français)Nixe(Deutsch)sereia(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • emrmaid
  • memraid
  • meramid
  • mermadi
  • mermaidd
  • mermiad
  • mermmaid
  • merrmaid
  • mmermaid
  • mremaid

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of mermaid - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

emrmaid2memraid2meramid2mermadi2mermaidd1mermiad2mermmaid1merrmaid1
Edit distance from "mermaid"

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 "mermaid"?
"mermaid" is spelled M-E-R-M-A-I-D. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈmɜːˌmeɪd/.
What does "mermaid" mean?
As a noun, "mermaid" means: A mythological creature with a woman's head and upper body, and a tail of a fish.
What are common misspellings of "mermaid"?
Common misspellings include "emrmaid", "memraid", "meramid", "mermadi", "mermaidd". The correct spelling is "mermaid".
How do you pronounce "mermaid"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "mermaid" is /ˈmɜːˌmeɪd/. 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 "mermaid"?
From Middle English mermayde (“maid of the sea”), from mere (“sea, lake”) + maid, equivalent to mer- + maid. Cognate with Dutch meermeid (“mermaid”), Middle High German mermaget, mermeit (“mermaid”, > German Meermagd, Meermädchen (“mermaid”)). Com... 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 “mermaid”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is M-E-R-M-A-I-D - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈmɜːˌmeɪd/ (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