# phone

> English word · Noun · IPA /fəʊ̯n/ · frequency rank #506

## Definitions
1. A device for transmitting conversations and other sounds in real time across distances, now often a small portable unit also capable of running software etc.
2. A person's telephone number (as a means of contact); digits.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *kʷelh₁-der.
Ancient Greek τῆλε (têle)lbor.
French télé-
Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂-der.
Ancient Greek φωνή (phōnḗ)der.
French -phone
French téléphonebor.
English telephone
English phone
Clipping of telephone; first attested in 1884.

## Easily confused with
- **Poe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phone-vs-poe)
- **pon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phone-vs-pon)
- **pope** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phone-vs-pope)
- **pole** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phone-vs-pole)
- **pine** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phone-vs-pine)
- **pose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phone-vs-pose)
- **pond** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phone-vs-pond)
- **pony** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phone-vs-pony)
- **poke** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phone-vs-poke)
- **pong** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phone-vs-pong)
- **Pune** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phone-vs-pune)
- **pore** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phone-vs-pore)
- **pons** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phone-vs-pons)
- **poon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phone-vs-poon)
- **photo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phone-vs-photo)
- **prove** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phone-vs-prove)
- **plane** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phone-vs-plane)
- **probe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phone-vs-probe)
- **prone** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phone-vs-prone)
- **prose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/phone-vs-prose)

## Common misspellings (7)
`hpone`, `phhone`, `phnoe`, `phoen`, `phonne`, `pohne`, `pphone`

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