partake

/pɑɹˈteɪk/

//pɑɹˈteɪk// verb

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

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

The verdict

“partake” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #21,611 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#21,611
frequency rank, English
7
letters
10
tracked misspellings
3
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To take part in an activity; to participate.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

partake vs portage
71% similar
partake vs parade
71% similar
partake vs pancake
71% similar

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

Key facts for partake
PropertyValue
Headwordpartake
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/pɑɹˈteɪk/
Letters7
Frequency rank#21,611
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs3
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “partake” 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). partake 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 partake is 7 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /pɑɹˈteɪk/. Corpus data places it at rank #21,611 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 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 partake, with forms such as "aprtake", "paratke", and "parrtake". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 3 confusable-pair relationships, "portage", "parade", "pancake", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: Back-formation from Middle English part-takinge, part-takynge (“a sharing; partaking”), a calque of Latin particeps (“participating”); equivalent to part + take. Compare take part. In the sense of taking a share or portion of something, displaced native Old… The correct English form is partake, spelled P-A-R-T-A-K-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To take part in an activity; to participate.
  2. 2
    To take a share or portion.
  3. 3
    To have something of the properties, character, or office.

Etymology

Back-formation from Middle English part-takinge, part-takynge (“a sharing; partaking”), a calque of Latin particeps (“participating”); equivalent to part + take. Compare take part. In the sense of taking a share or portion of something, displaced native Old English onbītan (“to taste of, to partake of”).

This word in other languages

participar(Español)participer(Français)teilnehmen(Deutsch)participar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: aprtake,paratke,parrtake,partaek,partakke,partkae,parttake,patrake,ppartake,pratake

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of partake - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

aprtake2paratke2parrtake1partaek2partakke1partkae2parttake1patrake2
Edit distance from "partake"

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 "partake"?
"partake" is spelled P-A-R-T-A-K-E. The IPA pronunciation is /pɑɹˈteɪk/.
What does "partake" mean?
As a verb, "partake" means: To take part in an activity; to participate.
What words are commonly confused with "partake"?
"partake" is commonly confused with "portage", "parade", "pancake". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "partake"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "partake" is /pɑɹˈteɪk/. 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 "partake"?
Back-formation from Middle English part-takinge, part-takynge (“a sharing; partaking”), a calque of Latin particeps (“participating”); equivalent to part + take. Compare take part. In the sense of taking a share or portion of something, displaced ... 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 “partake”

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

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