mistletoe

/ˈmɪs(ə)ltəʊ/

//ˈmɪs(ə)ltəʊ// noun

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

"mistletoe" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“mistletoe” has 13 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #36,671. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#36,671
frequency rank, English
36,575
“M” headwords
13
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Any of numerous hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales with white berries that grow in the crowns of apple trees, oaks, and other trees, such as the European mistletoe (Viscum album...

Key facts for mistletoe
PropertyValue
Headwordmistletoe
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈmɪs(ə)ltəʊ/
Letters9
Frequency rank#36,671
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “mistletoe” 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). mistletoe 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 13 spelling variants around mistletoe (IPA /ˈmɪs(ə)ltəʊ/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #36,671 among 36,575 “M” headwords. Wiktionary lists 2 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for mistletoe, with forms such as "imstletoe", "misltetoe", and "misstletoe". 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. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English mistelto, mistilto (“European mistletoe”), from Old English misteltān (“mistletoe”), from mistel (“mistletoe; basil; birdlime”) + tān (“sprig, shoot, twig”), possibly as a calque of Old Norse mistilteinn; equivalent to mistle + tan (“twi… The correct English form is mistletoe, spelled M-I-S-T-L-E-T-O-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Any of numerous hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales with white berries that grow in the crowns of apple trees, oaks, and other trees, such as the European mistletoe (Viscum album) and American mistletoe or eastern mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum).
  2. 2
    A sprig of one such plant used as a Christmas decoration, associated with the custom that a man may kiss any woman standing beneath it.

Etymology

From Middle English mistelto, mistilto (“European mistletoe”), from Old English misteltān (“mistletoe”), from mistel (“mistletoe; basil; birdlime”) + tān (“sprig, shoot, twig”), possibly as a calque of Old Norse mistilteinn; equivalent to mistle + tan (“twig”). This was mistaken for the plural of tā (“toe”). Cognate with Danish mistelten (“mistletoe”), Norwegian misteltein (“mistletoe”), Icelandic mistilteinn (“mistletoe”). Compare also the simplex form West Frisian mistel (“mistletoe”), Dutch mistel (“mistletoe”), German Mistel (“mistletoe”), Swedish mistel (“mistletoe”).

This word in other languages

liga(Español)gui(Français)Mistel(Deutsch)visco(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • imstletoe
  • misltetoe
  • misstletoe
  • misteltoe
  • mistleote
  • mistleteo
  • mistlettoe
  • mistlletoe
  • mistlteoe
  • misttletoe
  • mitsletoe
  • mmistletoe
  • msitletoe

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

imstletoe2misltetoe2misstletoe1misteltoe2mistleote2mistleteo2mistlettoe1mistlletoe1
Edit distance from "mistletoe"

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 "mistletoe"?
"mistletoe" is spelled M-I-S-T-L-E-T-O-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈmɪs(ə)ltəʊ/.
What does "mistletoe" mean?
As a noun, "mistletoe" means: Any of numerous hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales with white berries that grow in the crowns of apple trees, oaks, and other trees, such as the European mistletoe (Viscum album...
What are common misspellings of "mistletoe"?
Common misspellings include "imstletoe", "misltetoe", "misstletoe", "misteltoe", "mistleote". The correct spelling is "mistletoe".
How do you pronounce "mistletoe"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "mistletoe" is /ˈmɪs(ə)ltəʊ/. 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 "mistletoe"?
From Middle English mistelto, mistilto (“European mistletoe”), from Old English misteltān (“mistletoe”), from mistel (“mistletoe; basil; birdlime”) + tān (“sprig, shoot, twig”), possibly as a calque of Old Norse mistilteinn; equivalent to mistle +... 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 “mistletoe”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is M-I-S-T-L-E-T-O-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈmɪs(ə)ltəʊ/ (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