tuppence
/ˈtʌp(ə)ns/
"tuppence" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“tuppence” is an uncommon English word, ranked #91,095 in English word frequency and used as a noun.
- #91,095
- frequency rank, English
- 8
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Two pence (in pre- or post-decimalisation currency).
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | tuppence |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ˈtʌp(ə)ns/ |
| Letters | 8 |
| Frequency rank | #91,095 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “tuppence” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for tuppence is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈtʌp(ə)ns/. Corpus data places it at rank #91,095 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.
We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for tuppence, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. No close-neighbour confusable shows up for this headword in our dataset, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.
Etymologically, the entry records: By surface analysis, two + pence, collective plural of penny. Same for the definition: "Ellipsis of tuppence worth (“one’s opinion”)" however, this idiom is derived from this fact; in Britain it used to cost two pence ("tuppence") to post a letter, usually … The correct English form is tuppence, spelled T-U-P-P-E-N-C-E.
Definition
- 1Two pence (in pre- or post-decimalisation currency).
- 2Ellipsis of tuppence worth (“one’s opinion”).
- 3The vulva or vagina.
Etymology
By surface analysis, two + pence, collective plural of penny. Same for the definition: "Ellipsis of tuppence worth (“one’s opinion”)" however, this idiom is derived from this fact; in Britain it used to cost two pence ("tuppence") to post a letter, usually holding one's opinion.
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 "tuppence"?
What does "tuppence" mean?
How do you pronounce "tuppence"?
What is the origin of the word "tuppence"?
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Using “tuppence”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is T-U-P-P-E-N-C-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˈtʌp(ə)ns/ (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.