# SOS

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˌɛs.əʊˈɛs/ · frequency rank #18,189

## Definitions
1. The conventional Morse code call made by a ship in distress.

## Etymology
From the letters represented by the signal, chosen as a sequence that is easy to recall and transmit (· · · — — — · · ·); it is not, as is commonly believed, an abbreviation for "save our souls", "save our ship", or any other phrase.

## Easily confused with
- **SS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sos-vs-ss)
- **SP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sos-vs-sp)
- **su** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sos-vs-su)
- **SW** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sos-vs-sw)
- **SV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sos-vs-sv)
- **Sy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sos-vs-sy)
- **sun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sos-vs-sun)
- **sub** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sos-vs-sub)
- **sum** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sos-vs-sum)
- **spy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sos-vs-spy)
- **sue** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sos-vs-sue)
- **spa** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sos-vs-spa)
- **sox** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sos-vs-sox)
- **soy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sos-vs-soy)
- **SUV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sos-vs-suv)
- **sup** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sos-vs-sup)
- **STD** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sos-vs-std)
- **sow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sos-vs-sow)
- **SQL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sos-vs-sql)
- **STA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sos-vs-sta)

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