thing

/ˈθɪŋ/

//ˈθɪŋ// noun

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

"thing" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“thing” is in the everyday core of English, ranked #184 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#184
frequency rank, English
5
letters
8
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - That which is considered to exist as a separate entity, object, quality or concept.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

thing vs tin
60% similar
thing vs tig
60% similar
thing vs this
60% similar

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

Key facts for thing
PropertyValue
Headwordthing
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈθɪŋ/
Letters5
Frequency rank#184
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “thing” 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). thing 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 thing is 5 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈθɪŋ/. Corpus data places it at rank #184 in overall English word frequency, putting it firmly in the everyday core of the language. Wiktionary records 23 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for thing, with forms such as "hting", "thhing", and "thign". 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 20 confusable-pair relationships, "tin", "tig", "this", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *tenk-? Proto-Indo-European *tenkóm Proto-Germanic *þingą Proto-West Germanic *þing Old English þing Middle English thing English thing From Middle English thing, from Old English þing, from Proto-West Germanic *þing, from… The correct English form is thing, spelled T-H-I-N-G.

Definition

  1. 1
    That which is considered to exist as a separate entity, object, quality or concept.
  2. 2
    A word, symbol, sign, or other referent that can be used to refer to any entity.
  3. 3
    An individual object or distinct entity.
  4. 4
    Whatever can be owned.
  5. 5
    Corporeal object.
  6. 6
    Possessions or equipment; stuff; gear.
  7. 7
    The latest fad or fashion.
  8. 8
    A custom or practice.
  9. 9
    A genuine concept, entity or phenomenon; something that actually exists (often contrary to expectation or belief).
  10. 10
    A unit or container, usually containing consumable goods.
  11. 11
    A problem, dilemma, or complicating factor.
  12. 12
    The central point; the crux.
  13. 13
    A penis.
  14. 14
    A vulva or vagina.
  15. 15
    A living being or creature.
  16. 16
    Used after a noun to refer dismissively to the situation surrounding the noun's referent.
  17. 17
    That which is favoured; personal preference.
  18. 18
    One's typical routine, habits, or manner.
  19. 19
    A public assembly or judicial council in a Germanic country.
  20. 20
    A romantic relationship.
  21. 21
    A romantic couple.
  22. 22
    Alternative form of ting.
  23. 23
    Girl; attractive woman.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *tenk-? Proto-Indo-European *tenkóm Proto-Germanic *þingą Proto-West Germanic *þing Old English þing Middle English thing English thing From Middle English thing, from Old English þing, from Proto-West Germanic *þing, from Proto-Germanic *þingą. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Ding (“thing”), West Frisian ting, ding (“thing”), Dutch ding (“thing”), German Low German Ding (“thing”), German Ding (“thing”), Swedish, Danish and Norwegian ting (“thing”), Faroese ting (“parliament, assembly”), Icelandic þing (“congress, assembly”). The word originally meant "assembly", then came to mean a specific issue discussed at such an assembly, and ultimately came to mean most broadly "an object". Compare Latin rēs, also meaning "legal matter", and same transition from Latin causa (“legal matter”) to "thing" in Romance languages. Modern use to refer to a Germanic assembly is likely influenced by cognates (from the same Proto-Germanic root) like Old Norse þing (“thing”), Danish ting, Swedish ting, and Old High German ding with this meaning.

Synonyms

itemstuffyokepenispredilection

This word in other languages

cosa(Español)chose(Français)Ding(Deutsch)coisa(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: hting,thhing,thign,thingg,thinng,thnig,tihng,tthing

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

hting2thhing1thign2thingg1thinng1thnig2tihng2tthing1
Edit distance from "thing"

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 "thing"?
"thing" is spelled T-H-I-N-G. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈθɪŋ/.
What does "thing" mean?
As a noun, "thing" means: That which is considered to exist as a separate entity, object, quality or concept.
What words are commonly confused with "thing"?
"thing" is commonly confused with "tin", "tig", "this". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "thing"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "thing" is /ˈθɪŋ/. 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 "thing"?
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *tenk-? Proto-Indo-European *tenkóm Proto-Germanic *þingą Proto-West Germanic *þing Old English þing Middle English thing English thing From Middle English thing, from Old English þing, from Proto-West Germanic *... 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 “thing”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is T-H-I-N-G - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈθɪŋ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “tin” - see the side-by-side comparison. thing vs tin
  • 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