parachute

/ˈpæɹəʃuːt/

//ˈpæɹəʃuːt// noun

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

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

The verdict

“parachute” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #14,804 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#14,804
frequency rank, English
9
letters
13
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A device, generally constructed from fabric, that is designed to employ air resistance to control the fall of an object or person, causing them to float instead of falling.

Key facts for parachute
PropertyValue
Headwordparachute
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈpæɹəʃuːt/
Letters9
Frequency rank#14,804
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “parachute” 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). parachute 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 parachute is 9 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈpæɹəʃuːt/. Corpus data places it at rank #14,804 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 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for parachute, with forms such as "aprachute", "paarchute", and "paracchute". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. Our dataset records no confusable match here, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from French parachute, from para- (“protection against”) (as in parasol) and chute (“fall”). The correct English form is parachute, spelled P-A-R-A-C-H-U-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    A device, generally constructed from fabric, that is designed to employ air resistance to control the fall of an object or person, causing them to float instead of falling.
  2. 2
    A web or fold of skin extending between the legs of gliding mammals, such as the flying squirrel and colugo.
  3. 3
    Any of various mushrooms with broad, domed caps.
  4. 4
    A small collar which fastens around the scrotum and from which weights can be hung.
  5. 5
    A large sheet of fabric used in children's physical education, often colorful, with handles allowing many people to control its motion.

Etymology

Borrowed from French parachute, from para- (“protection against”) (as in parasol) and chute (“fall”).

This word in other languages

paracaídas(Español)parachute(Français)Fallschirm(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: aprachute,paarchute,paracchute,parachhute,parachtue,parachuet,parachutte,paracuhte,parahcute,parcahute,parrachute,pparachute,praachute

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

aprachute2paarchute2paracchute1parachhute1parachtue2parachuet2parachutte1paracuhte2
Edit distance from "parachute"

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 "parachute"?
"parachute" is spelled P-A-R-A-C-H-U-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpæɹəʃuːt/.
What does "parachute" mean?
As a noun, "parachute" means: A device, generally constructed from fabric, that is designed to employ air resistance to control the fall of an object or person, causing them to float instead of falling.
What are common misspellings of "parachute"?
Common misspellings include "aprachute", "paarchute", "paracchute", "parachhute", "parachtue". The correct spelling is "parachute".
How do you pronounce "parachute"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "parachute" is /ˈpæɹəʃuːt/. 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 "parachute"?
Borrowed from French parachute, from para- (“protection against”) (as in parasol) and chute (“fall”). 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 “parachute”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is P-A-R-A-C-H-U-T-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈpæɹəʃuːt/ (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.

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

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