# sorrel

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈsɒɹəl/ · frequency rank #48,497

## Definitions
1. Any of various plants with acidic leaves of the genus Rumex, especially
2. Any of various plants with acidic leaves of the genus Rumex, especially
3. Members of genus Oxalis or family Oxalidaceae, woodsorrels.
4. The roselle, Hibiscus sabdariffa.
5. The roselle, Hibiscus sabdariffa.

## Etymology
From Middle English sorel, from Old French sorel, surele (“sorrel”), from Old French sur (“sour”), of Germanic origin, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *sūraz (“sour”); equivalent to sour + -el (diminutive suffix). Compare Old English sūre (“sorrel”), Icelandic súra (“sorrel”), Dutch zuring (“dock (plant), sorrel”). More at sour.

## Easily confused with
- **sorry** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sorrel-vs-sorry)
- **sorted** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sorrel-vs-sorted)
- **Surrey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sorrel-vs-surrey)
- **sorrow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sorrel-vs-sorrow)
- **surreal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sorrel-vs-surreal)
- **sore** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sore-vs-sorrel)
- **sorely** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sorely-vs-sorrel)
- **soared** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/soared-vs-sorrel)
- **sorbet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sorbet-vs-sorrel)
- **snorkel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/snorkel-vs-sorrel)

## Common misspellings (7)
`osrrel`, `sorel`, `sorerl`, `sorrell`, `sorrle`, `srorel`, `ssorrel`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/sorrel