probable

/ˈpɹɒbəbl̩/

//ˈpɹɒbəbl̩// adj

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

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

The verdict

“probable” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #9,799 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#9,799
frequency rank, English
8
letters
13
tracked misspellings
3
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Likely or most likely to be true.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

probable vs probate
75% similar
probable vs probably
88% similar
probable vs potable
75% similar

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

Key facts for probable
PropertyValue
Headwordprobable
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈpɹɒbəbl̩/
Letters8
Frequency rank#9,799
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs3
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “probable” 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). probable 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 probable is 8 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈpɹɒbəbl̩/. Corpus data places it at rank #9,799 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for probable, with forms such as "porbable", "pprobable", and "prboable". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 3 confusable-pair relationships, "probate", "probably", "potable", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English probable, from Old French probable, from Latin probābilis (“that may be proved, credible”), from probāre (“to test, examine”); see probe, probity, prove. Compare recent doublet provable. The correct English form is probable, spelled P-R-O-B-A-B-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Likely or most likely to be true.
  2. 2
    Likely to happen.
  3. 3
    Supporting, or giving ground for, belief, but not demonstrating.
  4. 4
    Capable of being proved.

Etymology

From Middle English probable, from Old French probable, from Latin probābilis (“that may be proved, credible”), from probāre (“to test, examine”); see probe, probity, prove. Compare recent doublet provable.

Antonyms

improbable

This word in other languages

probable(Español)probable(Français)glaubhaft(Deutsch)provável(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: porbable,pprobable,prboable,proabble,probabble,probabel,probablle,probalbe,probbable,probbale,probible,prrobable,rpobable

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of probable - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

porbable2pprobable1prboable2proabble2probabble1probabel2probablle1probalbe2
Edit distance from "probable"

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 "probable"?
"probable" is spelled P-R-O-B-A-B-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpɹɒbəbl̩/.
What does "probable" mean?
As an adjective, "probable" means: Likely or most likely to be true.
What words are commonly confused with "probable"?
"probable" is commonly confused with "probate", "probably", "potable". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "probable"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "probable" is /ˈpɹɒbəbl̩/. 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 "probable"?
From Middle English probable, from Old French probable, from Latin probābilis (“that may be proved, credible”), from probāre (“to test, examine”); see probe, probity, prove. Compare recent doublet provable. 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 “probable”

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

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