shampoo

/ʃæmˈpuː/

//ʃæmˈpuː// noun

"shampoo" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“shampoo” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #13,421 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#13,421
frequency rank, English
7
letters
10
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A traditional Indian and Persian body massage given after pouring warm water over the body and rubbing it with extracts from herbs.

Key facts for shampoo
PropertyValue
Headwordshampoo
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ʃæmˈpuː/
Letters7
Frequency rank#13,421
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “shampoo” 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). shampoo 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 shampoo is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ʃæmˈpuː/. Corpus data places it at rank #13,421 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for shampoo, with forms such as "hsampoo", "sahmpoo", and "shammpoo". 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. Our dataset records no confusable match here, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Hindi चाँपो (cā̃po) / चांपो (cāmpo), imperative form of चाँपना (cā̃pnā) / चांपना (cāmpnā, “to press, knead”), mid 18th c. The correct English form is shampoo, spelled S-H-A-M-P-O-O.

Definition

  1. 1
    A traditional Indian and Persian body massage given after pouring warm water over the body and rubbing it with extracts from herbs.
  2. 2
    A commercial liquid soaplike product for washing hair or other fibers, such as carpets.
  3. 3
    An instance of washing the hair or other fibres with shampoo.
  4. 4
    Champagne.

Etymology

From Hindi चाँपो (cā̃po) / चांपो (cāmpo), imperative form of चाँपना (cā̃pnā) / चांपना (cāmpnā, “to press, knead”), mid 18th c.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: hsampoo,sahmpoo,shammpoo,shamopo,shampo,shamppoo,shapmoo,shhampoo,shmapoo,sshampoo

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of shampoo - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

hsampoo2sahmpoo2shammpoo1shamopo2shampo1shamppoo1shapmoo2shhampoo1
Edit distance from "shampoo"

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 "shampoo"?
"shampoo" is spelled S-H-A-M-P-O-O. The IPA pronunciation is /ʃæmˈpuː/.
What does "shampoo" mean?
As a noun, "shampoo" means: A traditional Indian and Persian body massage given after pouring warm water over the body and rubbing it with extracts from herbs.
What are common misspellings of "shampoo"?
Common misspellings include "hsampoo", "sahmpoo", "shammpoo", "shamopo", "shampo". The correct spelling is "shampoo".
How do you pronounce "shampoo"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "shampoo" is /ʃæmˈpuː/. 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 "shampoo"?
From Hindi चाँपो (cā̃po) / चांपो (cāmpo), imperative form of चाँपना (cā̃pnā) / चांपना (cāmpnā, “to press, knead”), mid 18th c. 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 “shampoo”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is S-H-A-M-P-O-O - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ʃæmˈpuː/ (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.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list