pansy

/ˈpæn.zi/

//ˈpæn.zi// noun

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

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

The verdict

“pansy” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #38,542 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#38,542
frequency rank, English
5
letters
8
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A cultivated flowering plant, derived by hybridization within species Viola tricolor.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

pansy vs pay
60% similar
pansy vs pas
60% similar
pansy vs past
60% similar

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

Key facts for pansy
PropertyValue
Headwordpansy
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈpæn.zi/
Letters5
Frequency rank#38,542
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “pansy” 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). pansy lands here:

#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 pansy is 5 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈpæn.zi/. Corpus data places it at rank #38,542 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for pansy, with forms such as "apnsy", "pannsy", and "panssy". 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, "pay", "pas", "past", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle French pensée (“thought”), as the plant resembles someone that is in deep thought, with a lowered head. Doublet of pensée. The correct English form is pansy, spelled P-A-N-S-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    A cultivated flowering plant, derived by hybridization within species Viola tricolor.
  2. 2
    A deep purple colour, like that of the pansy.
  3. 3
    Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Junonia.
  4. 4
    A timid, weak man or boy; a wuss.
  5. 5
    A male homosexual, especially one who is effeminate.

Etymology

From Middle French pensée (“thought”), as the plant resembles someone that is in deep thought, with a lowered head. Doublet of pensée.

This word in other languages

pensamiento(Español)pensée(Français)Stiefmütterchen(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: apnsy,pannsy,panssy,pansyy,panys,pasny,pnasy,ppansy

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of pansy - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

apnsy2pannsy1panssy1pansyy1panys2pasny2pnasy2ppansy1
Edit distance from "pansy"

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 "pansy"?
"pansy" is spelled P-A-N-S-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpæn.zi/.
What does "pansy" mean?
As a noun, "pansy" means: A cultivated flowering plant, derived by hybridization within species Viola tricolor.
What words are commonly confused with "pansy"?
"pansy" is commonly confused with "pay", "pas", "past". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "pansy"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "pansy" is /ˈpæn.zi/. 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 "pansy"?
From Middle French pensée (“thought”), as the plant resembles someone that is in deep thought, with a lowered head. Doublet of pensée. 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 “pansy”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is P-A-N-S-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈpæn.zi/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “pay” - see the side-by-side comparison. pansy vs pay
  • 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.

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list