segue

/ˈsɛɡweɪ/

//ˈsɛɡweɪ// verb

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

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

The verdict

“segue” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #49,626 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#49,626
frequency rank, English
5
letters
6
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To move smoothly from one state or subject to another.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

segue vs sue
60% similar
segue vs sense
60% similar
segue vs serve
60% similar

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

Key facts for segue
PropertyValue
Headwordsegue
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈsɛɡweɪ/
Letters5
Frequency rank#49,626
Misspellings tracked6
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “segue” 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). segue 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 segue is 5 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈsɛɡweɪ/. Corpus data places it at rank #49,626 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 6 likely wrong-spelling variants for segue, with forms such as "esgue", "segeu", and "seggue". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "sue", "sense", "serve", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Italian segue (“it follows”), from seguire (“to follow”), from Latin sequor; originally a term used in a musical score to indicate that the next movement or passage is to follow without a break. Cognate with Spanish seguir. Doublet of sue. Rel… The correct English form is segue, spelled S-E-G-U-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To move smoothly from one state or subject to another.
  2. 2
    To make a smooth transition from one theme to another.
  3. 3
    To play a sequence of records with no talk between them.

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian segue (“it follows”), from seguire (“to follow”), from Latin sequor; originally a term used in a musical score to indicate that the next movement or passage is to follow without a break. Cognate with Spanish seguir. Doublet of sue. Related to suit and sequence.

This word in other languages

enchaîner(Français)überleiten(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: esgue,segeu,seggue,seuge,sgeue,ssegue

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

esgue2segeu2seggue1seuge2sgeue2ssegue1
Edit distance from "segue"

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 "segue"?
"segue" is spelled S-E-G-U-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈsɛɡweɪ/.
What does "segue" mean?
As a verb, "segue" means: To move smoothly from one state or subject to another.
What words are commonly confused with "segue"?
"segue" is commonly confused with "sue", "sense", "serve". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "segue"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "segue" is /ˈsɛɡweɪ/. 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 "segue"?
Borrowed from Italian segue (“it follows”), from seguire (“to follow”), from Latin sequor; originally a term used in a musical score to indicate that the next movement or passage is to follow without a break. Cognate with Spanish seguir. Doublet o... 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 “segue”

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

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