nub

Name: nub, English Word Data
Creator: Wiktionary
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

/nʌb/

//nʌb// noun

By PlainSpell Editorial Team · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) · analyzed May 6, 2026

The verdict

“nub” is an uncommon English word, ranked #50,118 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#50,118
frequency rank, English: 3
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The innermost section of a chrysalis in a silk cocoon.

Key facts for nub
Property	Value
Headword	nub
Language	English
Part of speech	Noun
IPA	/nʌb/
Letters	3
Frequency rank	#50,118
Misspellings tracked	0
Confusable pairs	0
Source	Wiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “nub” 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). nub lands here:

#50,118

#1#100#1K#10K#100K

← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for nub is 3 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /nʌb/. Corpus data places it at rank #50,118 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

No generated misspelling entries exist for nub in our index, and the word's spelling is regular enough that our generator found nothing worth flagging. 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: Either directly from Middle Low German, or from knub, from a Middle Low German word (compare Low German Knubbel, Knobbel (“knot; lump”)). Compare knob. The correct English form is nub, spelled N-U-B.

Definition

1
The innermost section of a chrysalis in a silk cocoon.
2
A small knob or lump.
3
The essence or core of an issue, argument etc.
4
The clitoris.
5
A pointing stick.
6
A passage of Shakespearean blank verse.

Etymology

Either directly from Middle Low German, or from knub, from a Middle Low German word (compare Low German Knubbel, Knobbel (“knot; lump”)). Compare knob.

This word in other languages

Klümpchen(Deutsch)

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 "nub"?

"nub" is spelled N-U-B. The IPA pronunciation is /nʌb/.

What does "nub" mean?

As a noun, "nub" means: The innermost section of a chrysalis in a silk cocoon.

How do you pronounce "nub"?

The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "nub" is /nʌb/. 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 "nub"?

Either directly from Middle Low German, or from knub, from a Middle Low German word (compare Low German Knubbel, Knobbel (“knot; lump”)). Compare knob. 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 “nub”

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

The one correct English spelling is N-U-B - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
Say it as /nʌb/ (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

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.