scrabble

/ˈskɹæbəl/

//ˈskɹæbəl// verb

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

"scrabble" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“scrabble” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #27,634 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#27,634
frequency rank, English
8
letters
11
tracked misspellings
4
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To scrape or scratch powerfully with hands or claws.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

scrabble vs scramble
88% similar
scrabble vs scribble
88% similar
scrabble vs squabble
75% similar

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

Key facts for scrabble
PropertyValue
Headwordscrabble
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈskɹæbəl/
Letters8
Frequency rank#27,634
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs4
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “scrabble” 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). scrabble 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 scrabble is 8 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈskɹæbəl/. Corpus data places it at rank #27,634 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for scrabble, with forms such as "csrabble", "scarbble", and "sccrabble". 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 4 confusable-pair relationships, "scramble", "scribble", "squabble", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle Dutch schrabbelen, frequentative of schrabben (“to scrape”), equivalent to scrab + -le. More at scrape. The correct English form is scrabble, spelled S-C-R-A-B-B-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To scrape or scratch powerfully with hands or claws.
  2. 2
    To gather hastily.
  3. 3
    To move with difficulty by making rapid movements back and forth with the hands or paws.
  4. 4
    To scribble.
  5. 5
    To mark with irregular lines or letters; to scribble on.

Etymology

From Middle Dutch schrabbelen, frequentative of schrabben (“to scrape”), equivalent to scrab + -le. More at scrape.

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: csrabble,scarbble,sccrabble,scrabbel,scrabblle,scrablbe,scrable,scrbable,scrrabble,srcabble,sscrabble

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

csrabble2scarbble2sccrabble1scrabbel2scrabblle1scrablbe2scrable1scrbable2
Edit distance from "scrabble"

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 "scrabble"?
"scrabble" is spelled S-C-R-A-B-B-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈskɹæbəl/.
What does "scrabble" mean?
As a verb, "scrabble" means: To scrape or scratch powerfully with hands or claws.
What words are commonly confused with "scrabble"?
"scrabble" is commonly confused with "scramble", "scribble", "squabble". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "scrabble"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "scrabble" is /ˈskɹæbəl/. 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 "scrabble"?
From Middle Dutch schrabbelen, frequentative of schrabben (“to scrape”), equivalent to scrab + -le. More at scrape. 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 “scrabble”

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

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