# nape

> English word · Noun · IPA /neɪp/ · frequency rank #44,953

## Definitions
1. The back part of the neck.
2. The part of a fish or bird immediately behind the head.

## Etymology
From Middle English nape, naape, of uncertain origin. Possibly from Old French hanap (“goblet”), from Frankish *hnapp, from Proto-Germanic *hnappaz ( > Old English hnæpp, hnæp (“cup, bowl, goblet”)), as there is a hollow at the base of the skull. More at nap.

## Easily confused with
- **ne** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nape-vs-ne)
- **NP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nape-vs-np)
- **Nat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nape-vs-nat)
- **NAS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nape-vs-nas)
- **NPR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nape-vs-npr)
- **nay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nape-vs-nay)
- **NDP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nape-vs-ndp)
- **nip** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nape-vs-nip)
- **nye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nape-vs-nye)
- **nav** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nape-vs-nav)
- **naw** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nape-vs-naw)
- **nee** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nape-vs-nee)
- **NPC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nape-vs-npc)
- **Noe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nape-vs-noe)
- **Nar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nape-vs-nar)
- **NPD** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nape-vs-npd)
- **nau** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nape-vs-nau)
- **NME** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nape-vs-nme)
- **nep** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nape-vs-nep)
- **NPT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nape-vs-npt)

## Common misspellings (5)
`anpe`, `naep`, `nappe`, `nnape`, `npae`

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