self-control
/ˌsɛlf kənˈtɹoʊl/
"self-control" is a 11-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“self-control” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 12
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The ability to control one's desires and impulses.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | self-control |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ˌsɛlf kənˈtɹoʊl/ |
| Letters | 12 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “self-control” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for self-control is 12 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˌsɛlf kənˈtɹoʊl/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. The dominant gloss from Wiktionary reads: "The ability to control one's desires and impulses.".
We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for self-control, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.
Etymologically, the entry records: From self- + control. The correct English form is self-control, spelled S-E-L-F---C-O-N-T-R-O-L.
Definition
- 1The ability to control one's desires and impulses.
Etymology
From self- + control.
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using “self-control”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is S-E-L-F---C-O-N-T-R-O-L - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˌsɛlf kənˈtɹoʊl/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- 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.