tomahawk

/ˈtɑ.mə.hɔk/

//ˈtɑ.mə.hɔk// noun

"tomahawk" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“tomahawk” has 12 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #33,457. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#33,457
frequency rank, English
27,828
“T” headwords
12
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An axe used by Native American warriors, originally made of stone, bone, or antler.

Key facts for tomahawk
PropertyValue
Headwordtomahawk
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈtɑ.mə.hɔk/
Letters8
Frequency rank#33,457
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “tomahawk” 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). tomahawk lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 12 spelling variants around tomahawk (IPA /ˈtɑ.mə.hɔk/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #33,457 among 27,828 “T” headwords. Wiktionary lists 4 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for tomahawk, with forms such as "otmahawk", "tmoahawk", and "toamhawk". 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 is not paired with a close-neighbour confusable in our dataset, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From an Eastern Algonquian word, most likely Powhatan tumahák; compare also Malecite-Passamaquoddy tomhikon (“axe”), Abenaki temahigan, demahigan (“axe”). The correct English form is tomahawk, spelled T-O-M-A-H-A-W-K.

Definition

  1. 1
    An axe used by Native American warriors, originally made of stone, bone, or antler.
  2. 2
    A dunk performed with one's arm behind one's head.
  3. 3
    A geometric construction consisting of a semicircle and two line segments that serves as a tool for trisecting an angle; so called from its resemblance to the American Indian axe.
  4. 4
    A field hockey shot style that involves a player turning their hockey stick upside-down and swinging it so that its inside edge will come into contact with the ball.

Etymology

From an Eastern Algonquian word, most likely Powhatan tumahák; compare also Malecite-Passamaquoddy tomhikon (“axe”), Abenaki temahigan, demahigan (“axe”).

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • otmahawk
  • tmoahawk
  • toamhawk
  • tomaahwk
  • tomahakw
  • tomahawkk
  • tomahawwk
  • tomahhawk
  • tomahwak
  • tomhaawk
  • tommahawk
  • ttomahawk

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

otmahawk2tmoahawk2toamhawk2tomaahwk2tomahakw2tomahawkk1tomahawwk1tomahhawk1
Edit distance from "tomahawk"

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 "tomahawk"?
"tomahawk" is spelled T-O-M-A-H-A-W-K. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈtɑ.mə.hɔk/.
What does "tomahawk" mean?
As a noun, "tomahawk" means: An axe used by Native American warriors, originally made of stone, bone, or antler.
What are common misspellings of "tomahawk"?
Common misspellings include "otmahawk", "tmoahawk", "toamhawk", "tomaahwk", "tomahakw". The correct spelling is "tomahawk".
How do you pronounce "tomahawk"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "tomahawk" is /ˈtɑ.mə.hɔk/. 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 "tomahawk"?
From an Eastern Algonquian word, most likely Powhatan tumahák; compare also Malecite-Passamaquoddy tomhikon (“axe”), Abenaki temahigan, demahigan (“axe”). 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 “tomahawk”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is T-O-M-A-H-A-W-K - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈtɑ.mə.hɔk/ (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

Same frequency band

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