pungent

/ˈpʌnd͡ʒənt/

//ˈpʌnd͡ʒənt// adj

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

"pungent" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“pungent” has 11 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #32,546. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#32,546
frequency rank, English
46,516
“P” headwords
11
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Having a strong odor that stings the nose; said especially of acidic or spicy substances.

Key facts for pungent
PropertyValue
Headwordpungent
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈpʌnd͡ʒənt/
Letters7
Frequency rank#32,546
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “pungent” 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). pungent 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 11 spelling variants around pungent (IPA /ˈpʌnd͡ʒənt/), anadjective. Corpus frequency is #32,546 among 46,516 “P” headwords. Wiktionary lists 4 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for pungent, with forms such as "pnugent", "ppungent", and "pugnent". 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. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin pungens (stem pungent-), present participle of pungo (“to sting”). Doublet of poignant. The correct English form is pungent, spelled P-U-N-G-E-N-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    Having a strong odor that stings the nose; said especially of acidic or spicy substances.
  2. 2
    Having a strong taste that stings the tongue; said especially of hot (spicy) food, which has a strong and sharp or bitter taste.
  3. 3
    Stinging; acerbic.
  4. 4
    Having a sharp and stiff point.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin pungens (stem pungent-), present participle of pungo (“to sting”). Doublet of poignant.

This word in other languages

acre(Español)âcre(Français)stechend(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • pnugent
  • ppungent
  • pugnent
  • punegnt
  • pungennt
  • pungentt
  • pungetn
  • punggent
  • pungnet
  • punngent
  • upngent

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

pnugent2ppungent1pugnent2punegnt2pungennt1pungentt1pungetn2punggent1
Edit distance from "pungent"

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 "pungent"?
"pungent" is spelled P-U-N-G-E-N-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpʌnd͡ʒənt/.
What does "pungent" mean?
As an adjective, "pungent" means: Having a strong odor that stings the nose; said especially of acidic or spicy substances.
What are common misspellings of "pungent"?
Common misspellings include "pnugent", "ppungent", "pugnent", "punegnt", "pungennt". The correct spelling is "pungent".
How do you pronounce "pungent"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "pungent" is /ˈpʌnd͡ʒənt/. 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 "pungent"?
Borrowed from Latin pungens (stem pungent-), present participle of pungo (“to sting”). Doublet of poignant. 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 “pungent”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is P-U-N-G-E-N-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈpʌnd͡ʒənt/ (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