# wretch

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɹɛt͡ʃ/ · frequency rank #36,017

## Definitions
1. An unhappy, unfortunate, or miserable person.
2. An unpleasant, annoying, worthless, or despicable person.
3. An exile.

## Etymology
From Middle English wrecche, from Old English wreċċa (“exile, outcast”), from Proto-Germanic *wrakjô (“exile, fugitive, warrior”), from Proto-Indo-European *wreg- (“to track, follow”). Doublet of garçon.

## Easily confused with
- **Wyeth** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wretch-vs-wyeth)
- **wretched** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wretch-vs-wretched)
- **watch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/watch-vs-wretch)
- **witch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/witch-vs-wretch)
- **wreck** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wreck-vs-wretch)
- **wrath** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wrath-vs-wretch)
- **welch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/welch-vs-wretch)
- **wench** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wench-vs-wretch)
- **wrench** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wrench-vs-wretch)
- **wreath** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wreath-vs-wretch)

## Common misspellings (10)
`rwetch`, `wertch`, `wrecth`, `wretcch`, `wretchh`, `wrethc`, `wrettch`, `wrretch`, `wrtech`, `wwretch`

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