perle

\pɛʁl\

/\pɛʁl\/ noun

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

The verdict

“perle” is a regularly-used French word, ranked #9,719 in French word frequency and used as a noun.

#9,719
frequency rank, French
5
letters
7
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Globule ordinairement d’un blanc argentin, à reflets irisés, qui se forme dans certaines coquilles par une extravasation de la nacre.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

perle vs pré
40% similar
perle vs pire
60% similar
perle vs pure
60% similar

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

Key facts for perle
PropertyValue
Headwordperle
LanguageFrench
Part of speechNoun
IPA\pɛʁl\
Letters5
Frequency rank#9,719
Misspellings tracked7
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “perle” 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). perle 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 perle is 5 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as \pɛʁl\. Corpus data places it at rank #9,719 in overall French word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 13 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 7 likely wrong-spelling variants for perle, with forms such as "eprle", "pelre", and "perel". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "pré", "pire", "pure", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Wiktionary doesn't record an etymology for this headword, so its spelling is easiest explained by how it's pronounced rather than where it came from. The correct French form is perle, spelled P-E-R-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Globule ordinairement d’un blanc argentin, à reflets irisés, qui se forme dans certaines coquilles par une extravasation de la nacre.
  2. 2
    Chose qui a l'éclat de la nacre.
  3. 3
    Chose qui a la forme ronde de la perle ; goutte d’un liquide, de rosée.
  4. 4
    Chose qui a la forme ronde de la perle ; goutte d’un liquide, de rosée.
  5. 5
    Chose qui a la forme ronde de la perle ; goutte d’un liquide, de rosée.
  6. 6
    Symbole de la perfection ; ce qu’il y a de mieux dans son genre.
  7. 7
    Comble ; summum.
  8. 8
    Erreur particulièrement amusante commise par quelqu’un à l’oral ou à l’écrit, rapportée comme une citation.
  9. 9
    Synonyme de plécoptère.
  10. 10
    Granulat de charbon compris entre 5 et 10 millimètres.
  11. 11
    Degré de cuisson du sucre, qui est alors qualifié de « perlé ».
  12. 12
    Caractère de 5 pt.
  13. 13
    Pet, flatulence.

This word in other languages

pearl(English)perla(Español)Perle(Deutsch)pérola(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: eprle,pelre,perel,perlle,perrle,pperle,prele

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of perle - 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.

eprle2pelre2perel2perlle1perrle1pperle1prele2
Edit distance from "perle"

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 "perle"?
"perle" is spelled P-E-R-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is \pɛʁl\.
What does "perle" mean?
As a noun, "perle" means: Globule ordinairement d’un blanc argentin, à reflets irisés, qui se forme dans certaines coquilles par une extravasation de la nacre.
What words are commonly confused with "perle"?
"perle" is commonly confused with "pré", "pire", "pure". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "perle"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "perle" is \pɛʁl\. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "perle" come from?
"perle" is a French 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 “perle”

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

  • The one correct French spelling is P-E-R-L-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as \pɛʁl\ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “pré” - see the side-by-side comparison. perle vs pré
  • 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