parch

/pɑɹt͡ʃ/

//pɑɹt͡ʃ// verb

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

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

The verdict

“parch” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
5
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To burn the surface of, to scorch.

Key facts for parch
PropertyValue
Headwordparch
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/pɑɹt͡ʃ/
Letters5
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “parch” sits in English frequency

parch falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

parch is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as averb, transcribed /pɑɹt͡ʃ/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 6 senses are on record.

The misspelling generator found no plausible variants for parch, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English parchen, paarchen (“to parch; dry; roast”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps a variant of Middle English perchen (“to roast”). The correct English form is parch, spelled P-A-R-C-H.

Definition

  1. 1
    To burn the surface of, to scorch.
  2. 2
    To roast, as dry grain.
  3. 3
    To dry to extremity; to shrivel with heat.
  4. 4
    To make very thirsty.
  5. 5
    To boil something slowly (Still used in Lancashire in parched peas, a type of mushy peas).
  6. 6
    To become superficially burnt; to become sunburned.

Etymology

From Middle English parchen, paarchen (“to parch; dry; roast”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps a variant of Middle English perchen (“to roast”).

This word in other languages

agostar(Español)assoiffer(Français)ausdörren(Deutsch)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "parch"?
"parch" is spelled P-A-R-C-H. The IPA pronunciation is /pɑɹt͡ʃ/.
What does "parch" mean?
As a verb, "parch" means: To burn the surface of, to scorch.
How do you pronounce "parch"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "parch" is /pɑɹt͡ʃ/. 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 "parch"?
From Middle English parchen, paarchen (“to parch; dry; roast”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps a variant of Middle English perchen (“to roast”). 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 “parch”

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

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