zounds
/zuːndz/
"zounds" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“zounds” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as an interjection - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 6
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Expressing anger, surprise, assertion etc.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | zounds |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Interjection |
| IPA | /zuːndz/ |
| Letters | 6 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “zounds” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for zounds is 6 letters long, classified as an interjection, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /zuːndz/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. The dominant gloss from Wiktionary reads: "Expressing anger, surprise, assertion etc.".
No misspelling variants are generated for zounds in our index, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.
Etymologically, the entry records: Minced form of God's wounds, with reference to the wounds from Christ's crucifixion. Compare strewth, blimey, gadzooks, 'sblood, crikey. The correct English form is zounds, spelled Z-O-U-N-D-S.
Definition
- 1Expressing anger, surprise, assertion etc.
Etymology
Minced form of God's wounds, with reference to the wounds from Christ's crucifixion. Compare strewth, blimey, gadzooks, 'sblood, crikey.
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using “zounds”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is Z-O-U-N-D-S - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /zuːndz/ (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.