scale

/skeɪl/

//skeɪl// noun

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

"scale" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“scale” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #1,575 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#1,575
frequency rank, English
5
letters
7
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A ladder; a series of steps; a means of ascending.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

scale vs SLE
0% similar
scale vs seal
60% similar
scale vs sole
60% similar

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

Key facts for scale
PropertyValue
Headwordscale
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/skeɪl/
Letters5
Frequency rank#1,575
Misspellings tracked7
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “scale” 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). scale 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 scale is 5 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /skeɪl/. Corpus data places it at rank #1,575 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 9 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 7 likely wrong-spelling variants for scale, with forms such as "csale", "sacle", and "scael". 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. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "SLE", "seal", "sole", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English scale, from Latin scāla, usually in plural scālae (“a flight of steps, stairs, staircase, ladder”), for *skand-slā, from scandō (“to climb”); see scan, ascend, descend, etc. Doublet of scala. The correct English form is scale, spelled S-C-A-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    A ladder; a series of steps; a means of ascending.
  2. 2
    An ordered, usually numerical sequence used for measurement; means of assigning a magnitude.
  3. 3
    Size; scope.
  4. 4
    The ratio of depicted distance to actual distance.
  5. 5
    A line or bar associated with a drawing, used to indicate measurement when the image has been magnified or reduced.
  6. 6
    A series of notes spanning an octave, tritave, or pseudo-octave, used to make melodies.
  7. 7
    A mathematical base for a numeral system; radix.
  8. 8
    Gradation; succession of ascending and descending steps and degrees; progressive series; scheme of comparative rank or order.
  9. 9
    A standard amount of money to be paid for a service, for example union-negotiated amounts received by a performer or writer; similar to wage scale or pay grade.

Etymology

From Middle English scale, from Latin scāla, usually in plural scālae (“a flight of steps, stairs, staircase, ladder”), for *skand-slā, from scandō (“to climb”); see scan, ascend, descend, etc. Doublet of scala.

This word in other languages

escala(Español)échelle(Français)Skala(Deutsch)escala(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: csale,sacle,scael,scalle,sccale,sclae,sscale

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

csale2sacle2scael2scalle1sccale1sclae2sscale1
Edit distance from "scale"

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 "scale"?
"scale" is spelled S-C-A-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is /skeɪl/.
What does "scale" mean?
As a noun, "scale" means: A ladder; a series of steps; a means of ascending.
What words are commonly confused with "scale"?
"scale" is commonly confused with "SLE", "seal", "sole". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "scale"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "scale" is /skeɪl/. 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 "scale"?
From Middle English scale, from Latin scāla, usually in plural scālae (“a flight of steps, stairs, staircase, ladder”), for *skand-slā, from scandō (“to climb”); see scan, ascend, descend, etc. Doublet of scala. 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 “scale”

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

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