XML

\iks.ɛm.ɛl\

/\iks.ɛm.ɛl\/ name

The verdict

“XML” is a moderately-common French word, ranked #33,518 in French word frequency and used as a proper noun.

#33,518
frequency rank, French
3
letters
17
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Langage informatique de balisage, servant à échanger des données entre systèmes informatiques hétérogènes.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

XML vs XV
33% similar
XML vs XX
33% similar
XML vs XP
33% similar

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

Key facts for XML
PropertyValue
HeadwordXML
LanguageFrench
Part of speechProper noun
IPA\iks.ɛm.ɛl\
Letters3
Frequency rank#33,518
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs17
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “XML” 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). XML 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 XML is 3 letters long, classified as a proper noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as \iks.ɛm.ɛl\. Corpus data places it at rank #33,518 in overall French word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. The dominant gloss from Wiktionary reads: "Langage informatique de balisage, servant à échanger des données entre systèmes informatiques hétérogènes.".

The misspelling generator found no plausible variants for XML, and the word's spelling is regular enough that our generator found nothing worth flagging. It also participates in 17 confusable-pair relationships, "XV", "XX", "XP", and more, 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, so its spelling is best read as a straightforward mapping from sound to letter. The correct French form is XML, spelled X-M-L.

Definition

  1. 1
    Langage informatique de balisage, servant à échanger des données entre systèmes informatiques hétérogènes.

Synonyms

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 "XML"?
"XML" is spelled X-M-L. The IPA pronunciation is \iks.ɛm.ɛl\.
What does "XML" mean?
As a proper noun, "XML" means: Langage informatique de balisage, servant à échanger des données entre systèmes informatiques hétérogènes.
What words are commonly confused with "XML"?
"XML" is commonly confused with "XV", "XX", "XP". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "XML"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "XML" is \iks.ɛm.ɛl\. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "XML" come from?
"XML" 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 “XML”

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

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