soften

/ˈsɒfən/

//ˈsɒfən// verb

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

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

The verdict

“soften” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #18,188 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#18,188
frequency rank, English
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
6
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To make something soft or softer.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

soften vs sorted
67% similar
soften vs softly
67% similar
soften vs softened
75% similar

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

Key facts for soften
PropertyValue
Headwordsoften
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈsɒfən/
Letters6
Frequency rank#18,188
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs6
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “soften” 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). soften 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 soften is 6 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈsɒfən/. Corpus data places it at rank #18,188 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 6 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 soften, with forms such as "osften", "sfoten", and "sofetn". 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. It also participates in 6 confusable-pair relationships, "sorted", "softly", "softened", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English softenen, softnen, equivalent to soft + -en. The correct English form is soften, spelled S-O-F-T-E-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    To make something soft or softer.
  2. 2
    To undermine the morale of someone (often soften up).
  3. 3
    To make less harsh.
  4. 4
    To become soft or softer.
  5. 5
    To become or make (a consonant) more lenis, to lenite.
  6. 6
    To palatalize.

Etymology

From Middle English softenen, softnen, equivalent to soft + -en.

Synonyms

emolliatemollifysoftentenderize

Antonyms

harden

This word in other languages

ablandar(Español)adoucir(Français)aufweichen(Deutsch)amolecer(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: osften,sfoten,sofetn,sofften,softenn,softne,softten,sotfen,ssoften

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

osften2sfoten2sofetn2sofften1softenn1softne2softten1sotfen2
Edit distance from "soften"

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 "soften"?
"soften" is spelled S-O-F-T-E-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈsɒfən/.
What does "soften" mean?
As a verb, "soften" means: To make something soft or softer.
What words are commonly confused with "soften"?
"soften" is commonly confused with "sorted", "softly", "softened". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "soften"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "soften" is /ˈsɒfən/. 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 "soften"?
From Middle English softenen, softnen, equivalent to soft + -en. 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 “soften”

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

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