# talent

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈtælənt/ · frequency rank #2,318

## Definitions
1. A marked natural ability or skill.
2. A unit of weight and money used in ancient times in Greece, the Roman Empire, and the Middle East, equal to about 30 to 60 kg in various times and places.
3. A desire or inclination for something.
4. People of talent, viewed collectively; a talented person.
5. The men or (especially) women of a place or area, judged by their attractiveness.

## Etymology
From Middle English talent, from Old English talente, borrowed from the plural of Latin talentum (“a Grecian weight; a talent of money”), from Ancient Greek τάλαντον (tálanton, “balance, a particular weight, especially of gold, sum of money, a talent”). Compare Old High German talenta (“talent”). Later figurative senses are from Old French talent (“talent, will, inclination, desire”), derived from the biblical Parable of the Talents.

## Easily confused with
- **tent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/talent-vs-tent)
- **tales** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/talent-vs-tales)
- **Trent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/talent-vs-trent)
- **talon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/talent-vs-talon)
- **taunt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/talent-vs-taunt)
- **talents** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/talent-vs-talents)
- **tallest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/talent-vs-tallest)
- **tangent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/talent-vs-tangent)
- **talented** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/talent-vs-talented)
- **tale** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tale-vs-talent)
- **taken** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taken-vs-talent)
- **tablet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tablet-vs-talent)
- **Talbot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/talbot-vs-talent)

## Common misspellings (9)
`atlent`, `taelnt`, `talennt`, `talentt`, `taletn`, `tallent`, `talnet`, `tlaent`, `ttalent`

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