really
/ˈɹɪə.li/
"really" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“really” has 7 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #113. The variants make it a useful spelling check.
- #113
- frequency rank, English
- 3,094
- “R” headwords
- 7
- tracked misspellings
- 15
- confusable pairs
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - In a way or manner that is real, not unreal.
Corpus desk
Index EN-really · really · English
really · rank #113 · 7 variants · 15 confusables
- FREQ-CORE #113
- LEN-LONG 6 letters
- VOW-3 3 vowels
- CONFUS-MID 15 pairs
- VAR-MID 7 variants
- BOOK-MID 3,094
- PHOTO-FINISH need
Nearest frequency peer: need (-1 rank slots)
Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern
Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.
Frequency neighbourhood for “really”
Lower corpus rank = more everyday usage (inverted bar length for readability)
- may
may
99,891 corpus weight
- here
here
99,890 corpus weight
- need
need
99,889 corpus weight
- really
really
99,888 corpus weight
- did
did
99,887 corpus weight
- right
right
99,886 corpus weight
What this shows Bars show where “really” sits against the nearest ranked English headwords in the FrequencyWords band, not a reprint of letter-browse containment.
Visual similarity to commonly confused words
How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).
Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | really |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Adverb |
| IPA | /ˈɹɪə.li/ |
| Letters | 6 |
| Frequency rank | #113 |
| Misspellings tracked | 7 |
| Confusable pairs | 15 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “really” sits in English frequency
A misspelling magnet
The generator records 7 spelling variants around really (IPA /ˈɹɪə.li/), anadverb. Corpus frequency is #113 among 3,094 “R” headwords. Wiktionary lists 3 senses, so context still picks the gloss.
Our generated misspelling index lists 7 likely wrong-spelling variants for really, with forms such as "erally", "raelly", and "reallyy". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 15 confusable-pair relationships, "rely", "reply", "realm", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.
Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English really, realy, rialliche, equivalent to real + -ly. The correct English form is really, spelled R-E-A-L-L-Y.
Definition
- 1In a way or manner that is real, not unreal.
- 2Actually; in fact; in reality.
- 3Very (modifying an adjective); very much (modifying a verb).
Recorded use
Wiktionary examplesThese source excerpts show how really appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.
We are to believe that by an extraordinary Conception by Means of the holy Ghost he in an extraordinary MANNER, (unknown to us) really assumed Flesh, and was by her nourished in the Womb and in due Time born in a natural Manner, and that whilst on Earth he was really hungry, and dry, and eat and drank as really as other Men, without, any Deception of Sigh…
If we take the phenomenal world as it strikes our senses, in all its varied and wonderful powers and aspects; as the mere symbol of the Divine Presence and power, that is, according to Christ, ever in, through, and over all, as really as are causal light, heat and gravity, or as really as our own life and souls pervade every atom of our bodies, [...]
Etymology
From Middle English really, realy, rialliche, equivalent to real + -ly.
This word in other languages
Common misspellings
Also misspelled as:
- erally
- raelly
- reallyy
- realy
- realyl
- relaly
- rreally
Misspelling Pattern Breakdown
How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of really - 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.
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.
PlainSpell is rendered directly from structured Wiktionary extracts and open word-frequency lists, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of September 3, 2026. Primary sources: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) and FrequencyWords.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you spell "really"?
What does "really" mean?
What words are commonly confused with "really"?
How do you pronounce "really"?
What is the origin of the word "really"?
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Similar English words by spelling shape
Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "really", not the corpus desk frequency band.
Same letter count
Frequency-ranked English headwords with 6 letters (nearest by frequency rank).
Similar misspelling depth
Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (7 here; floor ≥5).
What to do next
You've looked up "really". Here's where to go from here.
- "really" maps to 15 confusable pairs in this vintage; the highest-scored is "rely". View pair
- 7 edit-distance misspelling variants are generated for spell-check research on this headword. See variants
- Usage frequency rank #113 among English headwords in this corpus. Corpus statistics
- Browse more English words in the "R" letter cohort. R–Z browse
- PlainSpell rotates a curated Word of the Day from the English corpus, a passive way to discover vocabulary. Word of the Day
PlainSpell is a reference corpus, not spelling advice. Verify unusual forms in context.
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.