# wise

> English word · Adjective · IPA /waɪz/ · frequency rank #2,975

## Definitions
1. Showing good judgement or the benefit of experience.
2. Disrespectful.
3. Aware, informed (to something).

## Etymology
From Middle English wis, wys, from Old English wīs (“wise”), from Proto-Germanic *wīsaz (“wise”), from Proto-Indo-European *weydstos, *weydtos, a participle form of *weyd-.
Cognate with Dutch wijs, German weise, Norwegian vis and Swedish vis. Compare wit.

## Easily confused with
- **WS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wise-vs-ws)
- **WWE** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wise-vs-wwe)
- **wit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wise-vs-wit)
- **woe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wise-vs-woe)
- **wiz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wise-vs-wiz)
- **WSJ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wise-vs-wsj)
- **wye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wise-vs-wye)
- **WSU** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wise-vs-wsu)
- **with** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wise-vs-with)
- **wish** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wise-vs-wish)
- **wore** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wise-vs-wore)
- **woke** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wise-vs-woke)
- **wits** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wise-vs-wits)
- **Witt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wise-vs-witt)
- **wisp** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wise-vs-wisp)
- **wove** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wise-vs-wove)
- **write** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wise-vs-write)
- **worse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wise-vs-worse)
- **wives** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wise-vs-wives)
- **wrist** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wise-vs-wrist)

## Common misspellings (5)
`iwse`, `wies`, `wisse`, `wsie`, `wwise`

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