embarras

\ɑ̃.ba.ʁa\

/\ɑ̃.ba.ʁa\/ noun

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

The verdict

“embarras” is a moderately-common French word, ranked #13,370 in French word frequency and used as a noun.

#13,370
frequency rank, French
8
letters
10
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Ce qui embarrasse ou résultat de l’action d’embarrasser.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

embarras vs embarrassé
80% similar

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

Key facts for embarras
PropertyValue
Headwordembarras
LanguageFrench
Part of speechNoun
IPA\ɑ̃.ba.ʁa\
Letters8
Frequency rank#13,370
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “embarras” sits in French 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). embarras 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 French entry for embarras is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as \ɑ̃.ba.ʁa\. Corpus data places it at rank #13,370 in overall French word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 7 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 embarras, with forms such as "ebmarras", "emabrras", and "embarars". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 1 confusable-pair relationship, "embarrassé", a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

No documented word history exists for this headword, leaving phoneme-to-grapheme mapping as the best guide to its spelling rather than a borrowing history. The correct French form is embarras, spelled E-M-B-A-R-R-A-S.

Definition

  1. 1
    Ce qui embarrasse ou résultat de l’action d’embarrasser.
  2. 2
    Commencement d’obstruction, et surtout d’une accumulation de matières dans l’estomac ou dans les intestins.
  3. 3
    Prétention, affectation, attitude de faiseur.
  4. 4
    Confusion de plusieurs choses difficiles à débrouiller.
  5. 5
    Manque d’argent, pénurie.
  6. 6
    Irrésolution dans laquelle on se trouve lorsqu’on ne sait quel parti prendre, ni par quelle voie se tirer de quelque pas difficile.
  7. 7
    Gêne, malaise que cause la nécessité d’agir ou de parler, lorsqu’on ne sait que faire ni que dire.

Synonyms

souci

This word in other languages

embarrassment(English)apuro(Español)Hemmnis(Deutsch)aperto(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ebmarras,emabrras,embarars,embaras,embarrass,embarrsa,embbarras,embraras,emmbarras,mebarras

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of embarras - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

ebmarras2emabrras2embarars2embaras1embarrass1embarrsa2embbarras1embraras2
Edit distance from "embarras"

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "embarras"?
"embarras" is spelled E-M-B-A-R-R-A-S. The IPA pronunciation is \ɑ̃.ba.ʁa\.
What does "embarras" mean?
As a noun, "embarras" means: Ce qui embarrasse ou résultat de l’action d’embarrasser.
What words are commonly confused with "embarras"?
"embarras" is commonly confused with "embarrassé". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "embarras"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "embarras" is \ɑ̃.ba.ʁa\. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "embarras" come from?
"embarras" is a French word. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data for this and other words across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German on PlainSpell.
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 “embarras”

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

  • The one correct French spelling is E-M-B-A-R-R-A-S - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as \ɑ̃.ba.ʁa\ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “embarrassé” - see the side-by-side comparison. embarras vs embarrassé
  • Browse more French words and confusable pairs in the same reference. French 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