# petal

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈpɛtl̩/ · frequency rank #27,596

## Definitions
1. One of the component parts of the corolla of a flower. It applies particularly, but not necessarily only, when the corolla consists of separate parts, that is when the petals are not connately fused. Petals are often brightly colored.
2. The labia (majora).
3. Term of endearment.
4. A lobe of a rose (geometric shape).

## Etymology
Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek πέταλον (pétalon), from πέταλος (pétalos, “broad, flat”), from Proto-Hellenic *pétalos, from Proto-Indo-European *peth₂- (“to spread out”), whence Latin pandō and Proto-Germanic *faþmaz (“embrace”) (English fathom).

## Easily confused with
- **PTA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/petal-vs-pta)
- **Pete** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/petal-vs-pete)
- **pets** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/petal-vs-pets)
- **pita** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/petal-vs-pita)
- **Petr** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/petal-vs-petr)
- **Peter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/petal-vs-peter)
- **petty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/petal-vs-petty)
- **petit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/petal-vs-petit)
- **petra** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/petal-vs-petra)
- **petri** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/petal-vs-petri)
- **Petey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/petal-vs-petey)
- **portal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/petal-vs-portal)
- **postal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/petal-vs-postal)
- **petrol** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/petal-vs-petrol)
- **pet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pet-vs-petal)
- **PAL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pal-vs-petal)
- **pea** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pea-vs-petal)
- **peak** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/peak-vs-petal)
- **peel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/peel-vs-petal)
- **peas** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/peas-vs-petal)

## Common misspellings (7)
`eptal`, `peatl`, `petall`, `petla`, `pettal`, `ppetal`, `pteal`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/petal