tackle

/ˈtækəl/

//ˈtækəl// noun

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

"tackle" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“tackle” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #5,636 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#5,636
frequency rank, English
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
13
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A device for grasping an object and an attached means of moving it, as a rope and hook.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

tackle vs take
67% similar
tackle vs tale
67% similar
tackle vs tacky
67% similar

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

Key facts for tackle
PropertyValue
Headwordtackle
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈtækəl/
Letters6
Frequency rank#5,636
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs13
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “tackle” 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). tackle 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 tackle is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈtækəl/. Corpus data places it at rank #5,636 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 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for tackle, with forms such as "atckle", "tacckle", and "tackel". 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 13 confusable-pair relationships, "take", "tale", "tacky", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English takel (“gear, apparatus”), from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German takel (“ship's rigging”), perhaps related to Middle Dutch taken (“to grasp, seize”). Akin to Danish takkel (“tackle”), Swedish tackel (“tackle”). More at take. The correct English form is tackle, spelled T-A-C-K-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    A device for grasping an object and an attached means of moving it, as a rope and hook.
  2. 2
    A block and tackle.
  3. 3
    Clothing.
  4. 4
    Equipment (rod, reel, line, lure, etc.) used when angling.
  5. 5
    Equipment, gear, gadgetry.
  6. 6
    A play where a player attempts to take control over the ball from an opponent, as in rugby or football.
  7. 7
    A play where a defender brings the ball carrier to the ground.
  8. 8
    Any instance in which one person intercepts another and forces them to the ground.
  9. 9
    An offensive line position between a guard and an end: offensive tackle; a person playing that position.
  10. 10
    A defensive position between two defensive ends: defensive tackle; a person playing that position.
  11. 11
    The penis.

Etymology

From Middle English takel (“gear, apparatus”), from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German takel (“ship's rigging”), perhaps related to Middle Dutch taken (“to grasp, seize”). Akin to Danish takkel (“tackle”), Swedish tackel (“tackle”). More at take.

This word in other languages

equipo(Español)placage(Français)Angel(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: atckle,tacckle,tackel,tackkle,tacklle,taclke,takcle,tcakle,ttackle

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

atckle2tacckle1tackel2tackkle1tacklle1taclke2takcle2tcakle2
Edit distance from "tackle"

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 "tackle"?
"tackle" is spelled T-A-C-K-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈtækəl/.
What does "tackle" mean?
As a noun, "tackle" means: A device for grasping an object and an attached means of moving it, as a rope and hook.
What words are commonly confused with "tackle"?
"tackle" is commonly confused with "take", "tale", "tacky". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "tackle"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "tackle" is /ˈtækəl/. 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 "tackle"?
From Middle English takel (“gear, apparatus”), from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German takel (“ship's rigging”), perhaps related to Middle Dutch taken (“to grasp, seize”). Akin to Danish takkel (“tackle”), Swedish tackel (“tackle”). More at take. 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 “tackle”

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

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