quicksilver

/ˈkwɪkˌsɪlvɚ/

//ˈkwɪkˌsɪlvɚ// noun

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

"quicksilver" is a 11-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“quicksilver” has 17 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #34,656. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#34,656
frequency rank, English
2,880
“Q” headwords
17
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The metal mercury.

Key facts for quicksilver
PropertyValue
Headwordquicksilver
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈkwɪkˌsɪlvɚ/
Letters11
Frequency rank#34,656
Misspellings tracked17
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “quicksilver” 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). quicksilver 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 17 spelling variants around quicksilver (IPA /ˈkwɪkˌsɪlvɚ/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #34,656 among 2,880 “Q” headwords. Wiktionary lists 2 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 17 likely wrong-spelling variants for quicksilver, with forms such as "qiucksilver", "qquicksilver", and "quciksilver". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. No close-neighbour confusable shows up for this headword in our dataset, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English quyk silver, quyksilver, quikselver, from Old English cwicseolfor (“quicksilver”, literally “living silver”) (see Latin argentum vīvum) from its ability to move. See quick in the sense of "living". Cognate with Dutch kwikzilver, German L… The correct English form is quicksilver, spelled Q-U-I-C-K-S-I-L-V-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    The metal mercury.
  2. 2
    An amalgam of mercury and tin applied to the backs of mirrors, quicksilvering.

Etymology

From Middle English quyk silver, quyksilver, quikselver, from Old English cwicseolfor (“quicksilver”, literally “living silver”) (see Latin argentum vīvum) from its ability to move. See quick in the sense of "living". Cognate with Dutch kwikzilver, German Low German Quicksülver, German Quecksilber, Danish kviksølv, Norwegian Bokmål kvikksølv, Swedish kvicksilver. By surface analysis, quick (“living”) + silver.

Synonyms

mercuryhydrargyrum

This word in other languages

mercurio(Español)vif-argent(Français)Quecksilber(Deutsch)mercúrio(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • qiucksilver
  • qquicksilver
  • quciksilver
  • quiccksilver
  • quickislver
  • quickksilver
  • quicksilevr
  • quicksillver
  • quicksilverr
  • quicksilvre
  • quicksilvver
  • quicksivler
  • quicksliver
  • quickssilver
  • quicskilver
  • quikcsilver
  • uqicksilver

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of quicksilver - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

qiucksilver2qquicksilver1quciksilver2quiccksilver1quickislver2quickksilver1quicksilevr2quicksillver1
Edit distance from "quicksilver"

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 "quicksilver"?
"quicksilver" is spelled Q-U-I-C-K-S-I-L-V-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkwɪkˌsɪlvɚ/.
What does "quicksilver" mean?
As a noun, "quicksilver" means: The metal mercury.
What are common misspellings of "quicksilver"?
Common misspellings include "qiucksilver", "qquicksilver", "quciksilver", "quiccksilver", "quickislver". The correct spelling is "quicksilver".
How do you pronounce "quicksilver"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "quicksilver" is /ˈkwɪkˌsɪlvɚ/. 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 "quicksilver"?
From Middle English quyk silver, quyksilver, quikselver, from Old English cwicseolfor (“quicksilver”, literally “living silver”) (see Latin argentum vīvum) from its ability to move. See quick in the sense of "living". Cognate with Dutch kwikzilver... 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 “quicksilver”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is Q-U-I-C-K-S-I-L-V-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈkwɪkˌsɪlvɚ/ (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 FrequencyWords open word-frequency list