skip

/skɪp/

//skɪp// verb

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

"skip" is a 4-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“skip” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #5,082 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#5,082
frequency rank, English
4
letters
6
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To move by hopping on alternate feet.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

skip vs SP
0% similar
skip vs sky
50% similar
skip vs SNP
0% similar

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

Key facts for skip
PropertyValue
Headwordskip
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/skɪp/
Letters4
Frequency rank#5,082
Misspellings tracked6
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “skip” 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). skip 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 skip is 4 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /skɪp/. Corpus data places it at rank #5,082 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 12 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 skip, with forms such as "ksip", "sikp", and "skipp". 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 20 confusable-pair relationships, "SP", "sky", "SNP", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English skippen, skyppen, of North Germanic origin, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *skupjaną, perhaps related to *skeubaną (“to drive, push”), iterative *skuppōną (“to push/move repeatedly, skip”), from Proto-Indo-European *skewbʰ- (“to push, th… The correct English form is skip, spelled S-K-I-P.

Definition

  1. 1
    To move by hopping on alternate feet.
  2. 2
    To leap about lightly.
  3. 3
    To skim, ricochet or bounce over a surface.
  4. 4
    To throw (something), making it skim, ricochet, or bounce over a surface.
  5. 5
    To disregard, miss or omit part of a continuation (some item or stage).
  6. 6
    Not to attend (some event, especially a class or a meeting).
  7. 7
    To leave, especially in a sudden and covert manner.
  8. 8
    To leap lightly over.
  9. 9
    To jump rope.
  10. 10
    To cause the stylus to jump back to the previous loop of the record's groove, continuously repeating that part of the sound, as a result of excessive scratching or wear. (of a phonograph record)
  11. 11
    To pass by a stitch as if it were not there, continuing with the next stitch.
  12. 12
    To have insufficient ink transfer.

Etymology

From Middle English skippen, skyppen, of North Germanic origin, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *skupjaną, perhaps related to *skeubaną (“to drive, push”), iterative *skuppōną (“to push/move repeatedly, skip”), from Proto-Indo-European *skewbʰ- (“to push, throw, shake”). Related to Icelandic skopa (“to take a run”), Old Swedish skuppa (“to skip”), modern dialectal Swedish skopa, skimpa (“to skip, leap”), and English shove. See also dialectal English skimp (“to mock”) (Etymology 1), considered by some to be related.

Synonyms

play hooky

This word in other languages

saltar(Español)sautiller(Français)hüpfen(Deutsch)pular(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ksip,sikp,skipp,skkip,skpi,sskip

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

ksip2sikp2skipp1skkip1skpi2sskip1
Edit distance from "skip"

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 "skip"?
"skip" is spelled S-K-I-P. The IPA pronunciation is /skɪp/.
What does "skip" mean?
As a verb, "skip" means: To move by hopping on alternate feet.
What words are commonly confused with "skip"?
"skip" is commonly confused with "SP", "sky", "SNP". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "skip"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "skip" is /skɪp/. 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 "skip"?
From Middle English skippen, skyppen, of North Germanic origin, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *skupjaną, perhaps related to *skeubaną (“to drive, push”), iterative *skuppōną (“to push/move repeatedly, skip”), from Proto-Indo-European *skewbʰ- (“t... 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 “skip”

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

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