tangerine

/ˈtæn.d͡ʒəˌɹiːn/

//ˈtæn.d͡ʒəˌɹiːn// noun

"tangerine" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“tangerine” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #31,373 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#31,373
frequency rank, English
9
letters
13
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A slightly ovoid, orange-coloured citrus fruit with a rough peel and a sour-sweet taste which is larger than a clementine and sometimes classed as a variety of mandarin orange.

Key facts for tangerine
PropertyValue
Headwordtangerine
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈtæn.d͡ʒəˌɹiːn/
Letters9
Frequency rank#31,373
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “tangerine” 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). tangerine 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 tangerine is 9 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈtæn.d͡ʒəˌɹiːn/. Corpus data places it at rank #31,373 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for tangerine, with forms such as "atngerine", "tagnerine", and "tanegrine". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: From French Tanger + -ine, after Tangier, Morocco. The correct English form is tangerine, spelled T-A-N-G-E-R-I-N-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    A slightly ovoid, orange-coloured citrus fruit with a rough peel and a sour-sweet taste which is larger than a clementine and sometimes classed as a variety of mandarin orange.
  2. 2
    A deep yellowish-orange colour, like that of a tangerine fruit.
  3. 3
    A tree that produces tangerines.

Etymology

From French Tanger + -ine, after Tangier, Morocco.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: atngerine,tagnerine,tanegrine,tangeirne,tangerien,tangerinne,tangernie,tangerrine,tanggerine,tangreine,tanngerine,tnagerine,ttangerine

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

atngerine2tagnerine2tanegrine2tangeirne2tangerien2tangerinne1tangernie2tangerrine1
Edit distance from "tangerine"

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 "tangerine"?
"tangerine" is spelled T-A-N-G-E-R-I-N-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈtæn.d͡ʒəˌɹiːn/.
What does "tangerine" mean?
As a noun, "tangerine" means: A slightly ovoid, orange-coloured citrus fruit with a rough peel and a sour-sweet taste which is larger than a clementine and sometimes classed as a variety of mandarin orange.
What are common misspellings of "tangerine"?
Common misspellings include "atngerine", "tagnerine", "tanegrine", "tangeirne", "tangerien". The correct spelling is "tangerine".
How do you pronounce "tangerine"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "tangerine" is /ˈtæn.d͡ʒəˌɹiːn/. 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 "tangerine"?
From French Tanger + -ine, after Tangier, Morocco. 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 “tangerine”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is T-A-N-G-E-R-I-N-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈtæn.d͡ʒəˌɹiːn/ (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