ta-da

/təˈdɑː/

//təˈdɑː// intj

"ta-da" is a 4-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“ta-da” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as an interjection - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
5
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Used to present something intended to be surprising, impressive, or pleasing.

Key facts for ta-da
PropertyValue
Headwordta-da
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechInterjection
IPA/təˈdɑː/
Letters5
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “ta-da” sits in English frequency

ta-da falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for ta-da is 5 letters long, classified as an interjection, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /təˈdɑː/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. The dominant gloss from Wiktionary reads: "Used to present something intended to be surprising, impressive, or pleasing.".

Our edit-distance generator produced no likely misspellings for ta-da, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: Imitative, supposed to represent a fanfare. First attested in the 1920s. The correct English form is ta-da, spelled T-A---D-A.

Definition

  1. 1
    Used to present something intended to be surprising, impressive, or pleasing.

Etymology

Imitative, supposed to represent a fanfare. First attested in the 1920s.

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "ta-da"?
"ta-da" is spelled T-A---D-A. The IPA pronunciation is /təˈdɑː/.
What does "ta-da" mean?
As an interjection, "ta-da" means: Used to present something intended to be surprising, impressive, or pleasing.
How do you pronounce "ta-da"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "ta-da" is /təˈdɑː/. 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 "ta-da"?
Imitative, supposed to represent a fanfare. First attested in the 1920s. 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 “ta-da”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is T-A---D-A - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /təˈdɑː/ (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
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