machete

[maˈt͡ʃet̪e]

/[maˈt͡ʃet̪e]/ noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

The verdict

“machete” is a moderately-common Spanish word, ranked #16,897 in Spanish word frequency and used as a noun.

#16,897
frequency rank, Spanish
7
letters
10
tracked misspellings
4
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Cuchillo grande, de un solo filo y más corto que una espada, que se utiliza para segar, cortar o podar plantas, especialmente para abrirse paso en la jungla.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

machete vs machine
71% similar
machete vs machote
86% similar
machete vs machetes
88% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for machete
PropertyValue
Headwordmachete
LanguageSpanish
Part of speechNoun
IPA[maˈt͡ʃet̪e]
Letters7
Frequency rank#16,897
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs4
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “machete” sits in Spanish frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). machete lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The Spanish entry for machete is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [maˈt͡ʃet̪e]. Corpus data places it at rank #16,897 in overall Spanish word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 9 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for machete, with forms such as "amchete", "macchete", and "macehte". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 4 confusable-pair relationships, "machine", "machote", "machetes", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

No borrowing history is documented for this entry, so its spelling is best read as a straightforward mapping from sound to letter. The correct Spanish form is machete, spelled M-A-C-H-E-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Cuchillo grande, de un solo filo y más corto que una espada, que se utiliza para segar, cortar o podar plantas, especialmente para abrirse paso en la jungla.
  2. 2
    Anotaciones (normalmente realizadas en el propio cuerpo o en un papel pequeño) que se utilizan de forma clandestina como fuente de información en los exámenes.
  3. 3
    Máquina que corta el tabaco que se tiene que transformar en hebras.
  4. 4
    Actividad productiva que se realiza, por lo general, a cambio de un salario.
  5. 5
    Persona reacia a gastar o compartir sus bienes, especialmente dinero.
  6. 6
    Persona emprendedora y eficiente.
  7. 7
    Persona que habitualmente o por preferencia obtiene provecho a costa ajena.^([cita requerida]).
  8. 8
    Órgano eréctil que presenta el macho de los mamíferos, homólogo del clítoris femenino, en el que desembocan los conductos del tracto genitourinario. En algunos animales se retrae en la ingle, y sólo se extiende durante la excreción y la cópula; en el ser humano no es retráctil. Está compuesto en su mayor parte por tejidos esponjosos, llamados cuerpos cavernosos, que al saturarse de sangre producen la erección.
  9. 9
    Edición de un texto para abreviarlo considerablemente u omitir parte de su información.

Synonyms

mochapandapeinillachuletatorpedopasteltrampaempleotrabajochupóngorristagorrónmanguerosablistavividorchulovivoconchudo

This word in other languages

machete(English)machette(Français)Machete(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: amchete,macchete,macehte,macheet,machette,machhete,machtee,mahcete,mcahete,mmachete

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of machete - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

amchete2macchete1macehte2macheet2machette1machhete1machtee2mahcete2
Edit distance from "machete"

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 Spanish corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "machete"?
"machete" is spelled M-A-C-H-E-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is [maˈt͡ʃet̪e].
What does "machete" mean?
As a noun, "machete" means: Cuchillo grande, de un solo filo y más corto que una espada, que se utiliza para segar, cortar o podar plantas, especialmente para abrirse paso en la jungla.
What words are commonly confused with "machete"?
"machete" is commonly confused with "machine", "machote", "machetes". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "machete"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "machete" is [maˈt͡ʃet̪e]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "machete" come from?
"machete" is a Spanish word. PlainSpell's reference spans five languages -- English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German -- with definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data for each.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “machete”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct Spanish spelling is M-A-C-H-E-T-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [maˈt͡ʃet̪e] (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “machine” - see the side-by-side comparison. machete vs machine
  • Browse more Spanish words and confusable pairs in the same reference. Spanish 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.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list