primrose

/ˈpɹɪm.ɹoʊz/

//ˈpɹɪm.ɹoʊz// noun

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

"primrose" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“primrose” has 12 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #32,541. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#32,541
frequency rank, English
46,516
“P” headwords
12
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A flowering plant of the genus Primula.

Key facts for primrose
PropertyValue
Headwordprimrose
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈpɹɪm.ɹoʊz/
Letters8
Frequency rank#32,541
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “primrose” 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). primrose lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 12 spelling variants around primrose (IPA /ˈpɹɪm.ɹoʊz/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #32,541 among 46,516 “P” headwords. Wiktionary lists 6 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for primrose, with forms such as "pirmrose", "pprimrose", and "primmrose". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. Our dataset records no confusable match here, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English primerose, from Old French primerose, from Medieval Latin prima (“first”) + rosa (“rose”). The reason it was called this might be that some primroses are among the first flowers to bloom in the spring. The correct English form is primrose, spelled P-R-I-M-R-O-S-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    A flowering plant of the genus Primula.
  2. 2
    A flowering plant of the genus Primula.
  3. 3
    A plant of the family Primulaceae.
  4. 4
    A plant of the genus Oenothera, better known as an evening primrose.
  5. 5
    A flower of a primrose plant.
  6. 6
    A light yellow colour.

Etymology

From Middle English primerose, from Old French primerose, from Medieval Latin prima (“first”) + rosa (“rose”). The reason it was called this might be that some primroses are among the first flowers to bloom in the spring.

Synonyms

primulacowslipoxlipprimerole

This word in other languages

primavera(Español)primevère(Français)Primel(Deutsch)prímula(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • pirmrose
  • pprimrose
  • primmrose
  • primorse
  • primroes
  • primrosse
  • primrrose
  • primrsoe
  • prirmose
  • prmirose
  • prrimrose
  • rpimrose

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of primrose - 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.

pirmrose2pprimrose1primmrose1primorse2primroes2primrosse1primrrose1primrsoe2
Edit distance from "primrose"

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 "primrose"?
"primrose" is spelled P-R-I-M-R-O-S-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpɹɪm.ɹoʊz/.
What does "primrose" mean?
As a noun, "primrose" means: A flowering plant of the genus Primula.
What are common misspellings of "primrose"?
Common misspellings include "pirmrose", "pprimrose", "primmrose", "primorse", "primroes". The correct spelling is "primrose".
How do you pronounce "primrose"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "primrose" is /ˈpɹɪm.ɹoʊz/. 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 "primrose"?
From Middle English primerose, from Old French primerose, from Medieval Latin prima (“first”) + rosa (“rose”). The reason it was called this might be that some primroses are among the first flowers to bloom in the spring. 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 “primrose”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is P-R-I-M-R-O-S-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈpɹɪm.ɹoʊz/ (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

Same frequency band

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