parasol

/ˈpæɹəˌsɒl/

//ˈpæɹəˌsɒl// noun

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

"parasol" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“parasol” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #45,570 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#45,570
frequency rank, English
7
letters
10
tracked misspellings
4
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A small light umbrella used as protection from the sun.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

parasol vs parson
71% similar
parasol vs Paras
57% similar
parasol vs paradox
71% similar

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

Key facts for parasol
PropertyValue
Headwordparasol
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈpæɹəˌsɒl/
Letters7
Frequency rank#45,570
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs4
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “parasol” 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). parasol 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 parasol is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈpæɹəˌsɒl/. Corpus data places it at rank #45,570 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.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for parasol, with forms such as "aprasol", "paarsol", and "paraosl". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 4 confusable-pair relationships, "parson", "Paras", "paradox", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From French parasol, from Italian parasole, from para- (“to shield”) + sole (“sun”). The correct English form is parasol, spelled P-A-R-A-S-O-L.

Definition

  1. 1
    A small light umbrella used as protection from the sun.
  2. 2
    A miniature paper umbrella used as a decoration in tropical-themed cocktails.
  3. 3
    A sun umbrella for garden use etc., mounted on a stand; these can be foldable and demountable.
  4. 4
    A roof or covering of a structure designed to provide cover from wind, rain, or sun.
  5. 5
    Any of various Asian species of libellulid dragonfly of the genus Neurothemis.
  6. 6
    A parasol mushroom (Macrolepiota procera)

Etymology

From French parasol, from Italian parasole, from para- (“to shield”) + sole (“sun”).

Synonyms

sunshadesun umbrellabeach umbrellachattachatra

This word in other languages

parasol(Español)ombrelle(Français)Sonnenschirm(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: aprasol,paarsol,paraosl,paraslo,parasoll,parassol,parrasol,parsaol,pparasol,praasol

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

aprasol2paarsol2paraosl2paraslo2parasoll1parassol1parrasol1parsaol2
Edit distance from "parasol"

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 "parasol"?
"parasol" is spelled P-A-R-A-S-O-L. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpæɹəˌsɒl/.
What does "parasol" mean?
As a noun, "parasol" means: A small light umbrella used as protection from the sun.
What words are commonly confused with "parasol"?
"parasol" is commonly confused with "parson", "Paras", "paradox". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "parasol"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "parasol" is /ˈpæɹəˌsɒl/. 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 "parasol"?
From French parasol, from Italian parasole, from para- (“to shield”) + sole (“sun”). 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 “parasol”

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

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