simple

\sɛ̃pl\

/\sɛ̃pl\/ adj

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

The verdict

“simple” is in the everyday core of French, ranked #457 in French word frequency and used as an adjective.

#457
frequency rank, French
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
18
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Qui n’est pas composé.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

simple vs smile
67% similar
simple vs single
67% similar
simple vs souple
67% similar

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

Key facts for simple
PropertyValue
Headwordsimple
LanguageFrench
Part of speechAdjective
IPA\sɛ̃pl\
Letters6
Frequency rank#457
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs18
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “simple” 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). simple 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 simple is 6 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as \sɛ̃pl\. Corpus data places it at rank #457 in overall French word frequency, putting it firmly in the everyday core of the language. Wiktionary records 14 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for simple, with forms such as "ismple", "simlpe", and "simmple". 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 18 confusable-pair relationships, "smile", "single", "souple", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

No documented word history exists for this headword, so its spelling pattern is best understood through pronunciation rather than a traceable origin. The correct French form is simple, spelled S-I-M-P-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Qui n’est pas composé.
  2. 2
    Qui n’est pas compliqué.
  3. 3
    Qui n’est pas multiple.
  4. 4
    Qui est modeste.
  5. 5
    Qui est facile à comprendre, à faire, à employer.
  6. 6
    Qui agit selon ses sentiments, avec une honnêteté naturelle et une droiture spontanée.
  7. 7
    Qui ignore ou refuse le faste, les complications, les vanités et les formalités.
  8. 8
    Qui agit avec naturel, sans orgueil, sans prétention.
  9. 9
    (Vers 1165) Qui a peu de culture, de finesse, d’intelligence, qui se laisse facilement tromper.
  10. 10
    Qui est d’un rang peu élevé, de condition sociale modeste.
  11. 11
    Qui est sans ornement sans recherche, sans affectation
  12. 12
    Qui se conjugue sans auxiliaire.
  13. 13
    Sans malice, qui se laisse facilement tromper.
  14. 14
    Qui se suffit à lui seul.

Synonyms

arriérébêtebonbonassebonhommebravecandidedroitfranchumbleidiotinnocentmodesteniaisniaiseuxnicaiseniceréservésimpletsingle

Antonyms

complexecompliquécomposé

This word in other languages

simple(English)simple(Español)einfach(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ismple,simlpe,simmple,simpel,simplle,simpple,sipmle,smiple,ssimple

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of simple - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ismple2simlpe2simmple1simpel2simplle1simpple1sipmle2smiple2
Edit distance from "simple"

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 "simple"?
"simple" is spelled S-I-M-P-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is \sɛ̃pl\.
What does "simple" mean?
As an adjective, "simple" means: Qui n’est pas composé.
What words are commonly confused with "simple"?
"simple" is commonly confused with "smile", "single", "souple". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "simple"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "simple" is \sɛ̃pl\. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "simple" come from?
"simple" 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 “simple”

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

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