# riddle

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɹɪdl̩/ · frequency rank #16,329

## Definitions
1. A verbal puzzle, mystery, or other problem of an intellectual nature.
2. An ancient verbal, poetic, or literary form, in which, rather than a rhyme scheme, there are parallel opposing expressions with a hidden meaning.

## Etymology
From Middle English redel, redels, from Old English rǣdels, rǣdelse (“counsel, opinion, imagination, riddle”), from Proto-West Germanic *rādislī (“counsel, conjecture”). Analyzable as rede (“advice”) + -le. Akin to Old English rǣdan (“to read, advise, interpret”). Cognate with Dutch raadsel, German Rätsel.

## Easily confused with
- **ride** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/riddle-vs-ride)
- **rifle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/riddle-vs-rifle)
- **ridge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/riddle-vs-ridge)
- **ripple** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/riddle-vs-ripple)
- **ridley** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/riddle-vs-ridley)
- **riddled** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/riddle-vs-riddled)
- **Riddles** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/riddle-vs-riddles)
- **riddler** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/riddle-vs-riddler)
- **ridden** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ridden-vs-riddle)
- **Randle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/randle-vs-riddle)

## Common misspellings (7)
`irddle`, `rdidle`, `riddel`, `riddlle`, `ridlde`, `ridle`, `rriddle`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/riddle