# sprain

> English word · Verb · IPA /spɹeɪn/ · frequency rank #35,092

## Definitions
1. To weaken, as a joint, ligament, or muscle, by sudden and excessive exertion, as by wrenching; to overstrain, or stretch injuriously, but without luxation

## Etymology
1601, verb attested 1622. Possibly borrowed from Middle French espraindre (“to press out, to wring”), from Latin exprimere, in which case cognate to express.

## Easily confused with
- **spray** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sprain-vs-spray)
- **stain** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sprain-vs-stain)
- **swain** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sprain-vs-swain)
- **spring** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sprain-vs-spring)
- **strain** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sprain-vs-strain)
- **sprint** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sprain-vs-sprint)
- **strait** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sprain-vs-strait)
- **sprays** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sprain-vs-sprays)
- **sprang** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sprain-vs-sprang)
- **sprawl** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sprain-vs-sprawl)
- **spraying** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sprain-vs-spraying)
- **spin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spin-vs-sprain)
- **span** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/span-vs-sprain)
- **Spain** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spain-vs-sprain)
- **slain** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slain-vs-sprain)
- **spawn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spawn-vs-sprain)
- **sarin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sarin-vs-sprain)
- **saran** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/saran-vs-sprain)

## Common misspellings (9)
`psrain`, `sparin`, `spprain`, `sprainn`, `sprani`, `sprian`, `sprrain`, `srpain`, `ssprain`

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