relate

/ɹɪˈleɪt/

//ɹɪˈleɪt// verb

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

"relate" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“relate” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #4,792 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#4,792
frequency rank, English
6
letters
8
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To tell in a descriptive way.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

relate vs relax
67% similar
relate vs relay
67% similar
relate vs remote
67% similar

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

Key facts for relate
PropertyValue
Headwordrelate
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɹɪˈleɪt/
Letters6
Frequency rank#4,792
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “relate” 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). relate 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 relate is 6 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɹɪˈleɪt/. Corpus data places it at rank #4,792 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 7 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for relate, with forms such as "erlate", "realte", and "relaet". 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 20 confusable-pair relationships, "relax", "relay", "remote", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Latin relātus, perfect passive participle of referō (“carry back; report”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Doublet of refer. See also infer, collate and confer, delate and defer, as well as prefer and prelate among others. The correct English form is relate, spelled R-E-L-A-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To tell in a descriptive way.
  2. 2
    To bring into a relation, association, or connection (between one thing and another).
  3. 3
    To have a connection.
  4. 4
    To interact.
  5. 5
    To respond through reaction.
  6. 6
    To identify with; to understand.
  7. 7
    To bring back; to restore.

Etymology

From Latin relātus, perfect passive participle of referō (“carry back; report”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Doublet of refer. See also infer, collate and confer, delate and defer, as well as prefer and prelate among others.

Synonyms

chronicledescribedivulgerecountstate

This word in other languages

relatar(Español)berichten(Deutsch)relatar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: erlate,realte,relaet,relatte,rellate,reltae,rleate,rrelate

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

erlate2realte2relaet2relatte1rellate1reltae2rleate2rrelate1
Edit distance from "relate"

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 "relate"?
"relate" is spelled R-E-L-A-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɹɪˈleɪt/.
What does "relate" mean?
As a verb, "relate" means: To tell in a descriptive way.
What words are commonly confused with "relate"?
"relate" is commonly confused with "relax", "relay", "remote". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "relate"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "relate" is /ɹɪˈleɪt/. 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 "relate"?
From Latin relātus, perfect passive participle of referō (“carry back; report”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Doublet of refer. See also infer, collate and confer, delate and defer, as well as prefer and prelate among others. 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 “relate”

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

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