# piano

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈpjænəʊ/ · frequency rank #4,258

## Definitions
1. A percussive keyboard musical instrument, usually ranging over seven octaves, with white and black colored keys, played by pressing these keys, causing hammers to strike strings.

## Etymology
Clipping of pianoforte, from Italian pianoforte, from piano (“soft”) + forte (“strong”). So named because it could produce a wide range of varied volumes note-by-note, in contrast to older keyboard instruments, notably the harpsichord. Doublet of llano, plain, and plane.

## Easily confused with
- **pin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piano-vs-pin)
- **plan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piano-vs-plan)
- **pink** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piano-vs-pink)
- **pine** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piano-vs-pine)
- **pins** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piano-vs-pins)
- **ping** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piano-vs-ping)
- **pint** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piano-vs-pint)
- **plans** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piano-vs-plans)
- **plant** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piano-vs-plant)
- **plane** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piano-vs-plane)
- **prank** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piano-vs-prank)
- **plank** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piano-vs-plank)
- **Plato** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piano-vs-plato)
- **porno** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piano-vs-porno)
- **pinto** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piano-vs-pinto)
- **pinot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piano-vs-pinot)
- **plano** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piano-vs-plano)
- **Prado** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piano-vs-prado)
- **Pinoy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piano-vs-pinoy)
- **Pan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pan-vs-piano)

## Common misspellings (6)
`ipano`, `paino`, `pianno`, `piaon`, `pinao`, `ppiano`

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