# roof

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɹuːf/ · frequency rank #2,760

## Definitions
1. The external covering at the top of a building.
2. The top external level of a building.
3. The upper part of a cavity.
4. The surface or bed of rock immediately overlying a bed of coal or a flat vein.
5. An overhanging rock wall.
6. A hat.

## Etymology
From Middle English rof, from Old English hrōf (“roof, ceiling; top, summit; heaven, sky”), from Proto-Germanic *hrōfą (“roof”). Cognate with Scots ruif (“roof, ceiling”), Dutch roef (“cabin on a boat”), Icelandic hróf (“shed”), Irish cró (“pen, barn, cabin”), Proto-Slavic *stropъ (“roof, ceiling”). Compare Faroese rógv (“something high up”).

## Easily confused with
- **row** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roof-vs-row)
- **Roy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roof-vs-roy)
- **rot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roof-vs-rot)
- **ROS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roof-vs-ros)
- **room** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roof-vs-room)
- **rose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roof-vs-rose)
- **root** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roof-vs-root)
- **Ross** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roof-vs-ross)
- **rope** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roof-vs-rope)
- **rows** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roof-vs-rows)
- **Rosa** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roof-vs-rosa)
- **Rory** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roof-vs-rory)
- **Roth** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roof-vs-roth)
- **Rowe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roof-vs-rowe)
- **rosy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roof-vs-rosy)
- **Roxy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roof-vs-roxy)
- **rook** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roof-vs-rook)
- **rout** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roof-vs-rout)
- **ruff** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roof-vs-ruff)
- **roux** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/roof-vs-roux)

## Common misspellings (5)
`orof`, `rof`, `rofo`, `rooff`, `rroof`

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