moustache

/məˈstɑːʃ/

//məˈstɑːʃ// noun

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

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

The verdict

“moustache” has 13 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #21,288. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#21,288
frequency rank, English
4,057
“M” headwords
13
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A growth of facial hair between the nose and the upper lip.

Corpus desk

Index EN-moustache · moustache · English

moustache · rank #21,288 · 13 variants · 1 confusable

  • FREQ-MID #21,288
  • LEN-LONG 9 letters
  • VOW-4 4 vowels
  • CONFUS-LOW 1 pairs
  • VAR-HIGH 13 variants
  • BOOK-MID 4,057
  • PHOTO-FINISH motherfucking

Nearest frequency peer: motherfucking (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “moustache”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “moustache” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

moustache vs mustache
89% similar

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

Key facts for moustache
PropertyValue
Headwordmoustache
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/məˈstɑːʃ/
Letters9
Frequency rank#21,288
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “moustache”

This scale runs from the tiny cluster of words that carry ordinary speech (left) to the long tail of words almost nobody reaches for (right).moustachelands here:

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

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Same rarity band neighbours include “motherfucking” (#21,287), “Mubarak” (#21,289), “modesty” (#21,286). Among 4,057 “M” headwords, “moustache” is #21,288. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 13 spelling variants around moustache (IPA /məˈstɑːʃ/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #21,288 among 4,057 “M” headwords. Wiktionary lists 2 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for moustache, with forms such as "mmoustache", "mosutache", and "mousatche". 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 1 confusable-pair relationship, "mustache", a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: Used in English since the 16th century. From Middle French moustache from Italian mostaccio, from Early Medieval Latin mustācium, from Byzantine Greek μουστάκιον (moustákion), diminutive of (Doric) Ancient Greek μύσταξ (mústax, “upper lip”), of unknown orig… The correct English form is moustache, spelled M-O-U-S-T-A-C-H-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    A growth of facial hair between the nose and the upper lip.
  2. 2
    A curly bracket, { or }.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how moustache appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. A moment later there entered a tall thin Englishman with a great moustache, which was a rare thing amid that clean-shaven race.
  2. “A tight little craft,” was Austin’s invariable comment on the matron;[…]. ¶ Near her wandered her husband, orientally bland, invariably affable, and from time to time squinting sideways, as usual, in the ever-renewed expectation that he might catch a glimpse of his stiff, retroussé moustache.

Etymology

Used in English since the 16th century. From Middle French moustache from Italian mostaccio, from Early Medieval Latin mustācium, from Byzantine Greek μουστάκιον (moustákion), diminutive of (Doric) Ancient Greek μύσταξ (mústax, “upper lip”), of unknown origin (probably a Pre-Greek substrate). Replaced native English kemp (“moustache”), from Old English cenep.

This word in other languages

bigote(Español)moustache(Français)Schnurrbart(Deutsch)bigode(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • mmoustache
  • mosutache
  • mousatche
  • mousstache
  • moustacche
  • moustaceh
  • moustachhe
  • moustahce
  • moustcahe
  • mousttache
  • moutsache
  • muostache
  • omustache

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

mmoustache1mosutache2mousatche2mousstache1moustacche1moustaceh2moustachhe1moustahce2
Edit distance from "moustache"

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 "moustache"?
"moustache" is spelled M-O-U-S-T-A-C-H-E. The IPA pronunciation is /məˈstɑːʃ/.
What does "moustache" mean?
As a noun, "moustache" means: A growth of facial hair between the nose and the upper lip.
What words are commonly confused with "moustache"?
"moustache" is commonly confused with "mustache". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "moustache"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "moustache" is /məˈstɑːʃ/. 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 "moustache"?
Used in English since the 16th century. From Middle French moustache from Italian mostaccio, from Early Medieval Latin mustācium, from Byzantine Greek μουστάκιον (moustákion), diminutive of (Doric) Ancient Greek μύσταξ (mústax, “upper lip”), of un... 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.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "moustache", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 9 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

nevermind#21,295McDonnell#21,277nocturnal#21,299Marseille#21,271

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (13 here; floor ≥5).

plutonium13 variantsreopening13 variantssemifinal13 variantssyllables13 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list