# wham

> English word · Noun · IPA /wæm/ · frequency rank #38,243

## Definitions
1. A forceful blow.
2. The sound of such a blow; a thud.
3. An attempt.
4. A great success.

## Etymology
Onomatopoeic, representing the sound of an object being slammed against something.

## Easily confused with
- **who** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wham-vs-who)
- **why** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wham-vs-why)
- **WPA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wham-vs-wpa)
- **wim** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wham-vs-wim)
- **what** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wham-vs-what)
- **when** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wham-vs-when)
- **whom** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wham-vs-whom)
- **wrap** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wham-vs-wrap)
- **whip** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wham-vs-whip)
- **whoa** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wham-vs-whoa)
- **worm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wham-vs-worm)
- **woah** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wham-vs-woah)
- **whim** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wham-vs-whim)
- **whew** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wham-vs-whew)
- **whit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wham-vs-whit)
- **whos** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wham-vs-whos)
- **whey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wham-vs-whey)
- **whig** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wham-vs-whig)
- **Wray** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wham-vs-wray)
- **whiz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wham-vs-whiz)

## Common misspellings (6)
`hwam`, `wahm`, `whamm`, `whham`, `whma`, `wwham`

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