southpaw

/ˈsaʊθˌpɔː/

//ˈsaʊθˌpɔː// noun

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

"southpaw" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“southpaw” has 12 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #49,064. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#49,064
frequency rank, English
54,294
“S” headwords
12
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - One who is left-handed, especially in sports.

Key facts for southpaw
PropertyValue
Headwordsouthpaw
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈsaʊθˌpɔː/
Letters8
Frequency rank#49,064
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “southpaw” 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). southpaw lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 12 spelling variants around southpaw (IPA /ˈsaʊθˌpɔː/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #49,064 among 54,294 “S” headwords. Wiktionary lists 3 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for southpaw, with forms such as "osuthpaw", "sotuhpaw", and "souhtpaw". 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 is not paired with a close-neighbour confusable in our dataset, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: From south + paw. First attested in 1813. Originating from 19th-century ballparks often oriented with the batter facing east to avoid the afternoon sun, placing a left-handed pitcher's arm on the south side. However, earlier usage suggests it may stem from … The correct English form is southpaw, spelled S-O-U-T-H-P-A-W.

Definition

  1. 1
    One who is left-handed, especially in sports.
  2. 2
    One who is left-handed, especially in sports.
  3. 3
    One who is left-handed, especially in sports.

Etymology

From south + paw. First attested in 1813. Originating from 19th-century ballparks often oriented with the batter facing east to avoid the afternoon sun, placing a left-handed pitcher's arm on the south side. However, earlier usage suggests it may stem from 1840s boxing slang for a left-handed punch. For Baseball: * Early 19th-century ballparks were often built with home plate on the west side and the pitcher's mound on the east to prevent the sun from being in the batter's eyes. Consequently, a left-handed pitcher's arm would be facing the southern side of the diamond. For Boxing: * Evidence suggests the term existed before baseball, being used in the 1840s to describe a left-handed punch or "paw" in boxing. A 1848 political cartoon described a "south paw" blow in this context.

This word in other languages

zurdo(Español)gaucher(Français)Linkshänder(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • osuthpaw
  • sotuhpaw
  • souhtpaw
  • southapw
  • southhpaw
  • southpaww
  • southppaw
  • southpwa
  • soutphaw
  • soutthpaw
  • ssouthpaw
  • suothpaw

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

osuthpaw2sotuhpaw2souhtpaw2southapw2southhpaw1southpaww1southppaw1southpwa2
Edit distance from "southpaw"

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 "southpaw"?
"southpaw" is spelled S-O-U-T-H-P-A-W. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈsaʊθˌpɔː/.
What does "southpaw" mean?
As a noun, "southpaw" means: One who is left-handed, especially in sports.
What are common misspellings of "southpaw"?
Common misspellings include "osuthpaw", "sotuhpaw", "souhtpaw", "southapw", "southhpaw". The correct spelling is "southpaw".
How do you pronounce "southpaw"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "southpaw" is /ˈsaʊθˌpɔː/. 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 "southpaw"?
From south + paw. First attested in 1813. Originating from 19th-century ballparks often oriented with the batter facing east to avoid the afternoon sun, placing a left-handed pitcher's arm on the south side. However, earlier usage suggests it may ... 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 “southpaw”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is S-O-U-T-H-P-A-W - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈsaʊθˌpɔː/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Same frequency band

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