single

/ˈsɪŋɡl̩/

//ˈsɪŋɡl̩// adj

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

"single" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“single” is in the everyday core of English, ranked #380 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#380
frequency rank, English
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
18
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Not accompanied by anything else; one in number.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

single vs sings
67% similar
single vs sizzle
67% similar
single vs singly
83% similar

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

Key facts for single
PropertyValue
Headwordsingle
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈsɪŋɡl̩/
Letters6
Frequency rank#380
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs18
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “single” 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). single 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 single is 6 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈsɪŋɡl̩/. Corpus data places it at rank #380 in overall English word frequency, putting it firmly in the everyday core of the language. Wiktionary records 9 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for single, with forms such as "isngle", "signle", and "singel". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 18 confusable-pair relationships, "sings", "sizzle", "singly", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English single, sengle, from Old French sengle, saingle, sangle, from Latin singulus, a diminutive derived from Proto-Indo-European *sem- (“one”). Akin to Latin simplex (“simple”). See simple, and compare singular. The correct English form is single, spelled S-I-N-G-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Not accompanied by anything else; one in number.
  2. 2
    Not divided in parts.
  3. 3
    Designed for the use of only one.
  4. 4
    Performed by one person, or one on each side.
  5. 5
    Not married, and (in modern times) not dating or without a significant other.
  6. 6
    Having only one rank or row of petals.
  7. 7
    Simple and honest; sincere, without deceit.
  8. 8
    Uncompounded; pure; unmixed.
  9. 9
    Simple; foolish; weak; silly.

Etymology

From Middle English single, sengle, from Old French sengle, saingle, sangle, from Latin singulus, a diminutive derived from Proto-Indo-European *sem- (“one”). Akin to Latin simplex (“simple”). See simple, and compare singular.

This word in other languages

solo(Español)seul(Français)einzeln(Deutsch)único(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: isngle,signle,singel,singgle,singlle,sinlge,sinngle,snigle,ssingle

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

isngle2signle2singel2singgle1singlle1sinlge2sinngle1snigle2
Edit distance from "single"

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 "single"?
"single" is spelled S-I-N-G-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈsɪŋɡl̩/.
What does "single" mean?
As an adjective, "single" means: Not accompanied by anything else; one in number.
What words are commonly confused with "single"?
"single" is commonly confused with "sings", "sizzle", "singly". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "single"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "single" is /ˈsɪŋɡl̩/. 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 "single"?
From Middle English single, sengle, from Old French sengle, saingle, sangle, from Latin singulus, a diminutive derived from Proto-Indo-European *sem- (“one”). Akin to Latin simplex (“simple”). See simple, and compare singular. 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 “single”

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

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