moldy

/ˈmoʊldi/

//ˈmoʊldi// adj

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

"moldy" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“moldy” has 8 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #42,277. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#42,277
frequency rank, English
36,575
“M” headwords
8
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Covered with mold.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

moldy vs mood
60% similar
moldy vs mole
60% similar
moldy vs moly
80% similar

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

Key facts for moldy
PropertyValue
Headwordmoldy
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈmoʊldi/
Letters5
Frequency rank#42,277
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “moldy” 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). moldy 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 8 spelling variants around moldy (IPA /ˈmoʊldi/), anadjective. Corpus frequency is #42,277 among 36,575 “M” headwords. Wiktionary lists 2 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for moldy, with forms such as "mlody", "mmoldy", and "modly". 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 20 confusable-pair relationships, "mood", "mole", "moly", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From mold + -y. The correct English form is moldy, spelled M-O-L-D-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    Covered with mold.
  2. 2
    Stale or musty.

Etymology

From mold + -y.

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • mlody
  • mmoldy
  • modly
  • molddy
  • moldyy
  • molldy
  • molyd
  • omldy

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

mlody2mmoldy1modly2molddy1moldyy1molldy1molyd2omldy2
Edit distance from "moldy"

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 "moldy"?
"moldy" is spelled M-O-L-D-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈmoʊldi/.
What does "moldy" mean?
As an adjective, "moldy" means: Covered with mold.
What words are commonly confused with "moldy"?
"moldy" is commonly confused with "mood", "mole", "moly". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "moldy"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "moldy" is /ˈmoʊldi/. 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 "moldy"?
From mold + -y. 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 “moldy”

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

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