spell

\ˈspɛl\

/\ˈspɛl\/ noun

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

The verdict

“spell” is uncommon French (frequency #75,250 among 394,209 “S” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#75,250
frequency rank, French
394,209
“S” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Formule magique, mots auxquels on attribue un pouvoir.

Key facts for spell
PropertyValue
Headwordspell
LanguageFrench
Part of speechNoun
IPA\ˈspɛl\
Letters5
Frequency rank#75,250
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “spell” 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). spell lands here:

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

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

Rare enough to double-check

spell is uncommon French at frequency #75,250 among 394,209 “S” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed \ˈspɛl\. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 4 senses are on record.

spell has no tracked misspelling variants, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. Our dataset records no confusable match here, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Wiktionary doesn't record an etymology for this headword, so its spelling pattern is best understood through pronunciation rather than a traceable origin. The correct French form is spell, spelled S-P-E-L-L.

Definition

  1. 1
    Formule magique, mots auxquels on attribue un pouvoir.
  2. 2
    Charme, maléfice, ensorcellement.
  3. 3
    Durée indéterminée.
  4. 4
    Parole, discours.

Synonyms

cantripincantationcantrip

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 "spell"?
"spell" is spelled S-P-E-L-L. The IPA pronunciation is \ˈspɛl\.
What does "spell" mean?
As a noun, "spell" means: Formule magique, mots auxquels on attribue un pouvoir.
How do you pronounce "spell"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "spell" is \ˈspɛl\. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "spell" come from?
"spell" 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 “spell”

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

  • The one correct French spelling is S-P-E-L-L - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as \ˈspɛl\ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more French words and confusable pairs in the same reference. French words

Other uncommon French words near this rank

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