species

/ˈspiːʃiːz/

//ˈspiːʃiːz// noun

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

"species" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“species” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #1,505 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#1,505
frequency rank, English
7
letters
10
tracked misspellings
11
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A type or kind. (Compare race.)

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

species vs spies
71% similar
species vs specs
71% similar
species vs spices
71% similar

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

Key facts for species
PropertyValue
Headwordspecies
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈspiːʃiːz/
Letters7
Frequency rank#1,505
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs11
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “species” 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). species 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 species is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈspiːʃiːz/. Corpus data places it at rank #1,505 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 11 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for species, with forms such as "psecies", "sepcies", and "spceies". 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 11 confusable-pair relationships, "spies", "specs", "spices", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Latin speciēs (“appearance; quality”), from speciō (“see”) + -iēs suffix signifying abstract noun. Doublet of spice. The correct English form is species, spelled S-P-E-C-I-E-S.

Definition

  1. 1
    A type or kind. (Compare race.)
  2. 2
    A type or kind. (Compare race.)
  3. 3
    A type or kind. (Compare race.)
  4. 4
    A type or kind. (Compare race.)
  5. 5
    A type or kind. (Compare race.)
  6. 6
    A type or kind. (Compare race.)
  7. 7
    An image, an appearance, a spectacle.
  8. 8
    An image, an appearance, a spectacle.
  9. 9
    Either of the two elements of the Eucharist after they have been consecrated.
  10. 10
    Coin, or coined silver, gold, or other metal, used as a circulating medium; specie.
  11. 11
    A component part of compound medicine; a simple.

Etymology

From Latin speciēs (“appearance; quality”), from speciō (“see”) + -iēs suffix signifying abstract noun. Doublet of spice.

This word in other languages

especie(Español)espèce(Français)Art(Deutsch)espécie(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: psecies,sepcies,spceies,speccies,speceis,speciess,specise,speices,sppecies,sspecies

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

psecies2sepcies2spceies2speccies1speceis2speciess1specise2speices2
Edit distance from "species"

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 "species"?
"species" is spelled S-P-E-C-I-E-S. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈspiːʃiːz/.
What does "species" mean?
As a noun, "species" means: A type or kind. (Compare race.)
What words are commonly confused with "species"?
"species" is commonly confused with "spies", "specs", "spices". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "species"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "species" is /ˈspiːʃiːz/. 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 "species"?
From Latin speciēs (“appearance; quality”), from speciō (“see”) + -iēs suffix signifying abstract noun. Doublet of spice. 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 “species”

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

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