debate

/dɨ.ˈba.tɨ/

//dɨ.ˈba.tɨ// noun

The verdict

“debate” is a regularly-used Portuguese word, ranked #2,270 in Portuguese word frequency and used as a noun.

#2,270
frequency rank, Portuguese
6
letters
8
tracked misspellings
8
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - discussão

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

debate vs deste
67% similar
debate vs dente
67% similar
debate vs débito
50% similar

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

Key facts for debate
PropertyValue
Headworddebate
LanguagePortuguese
Part of speechNoun
IPA/dɨ.ˈba.tɨ/
Letters6
Frequency rank#2,270
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs8
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “debate” sits in Portuguese 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). debate 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 Portuguese entry for debate is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /dɨ.ˈba.tɨ/. Corpus data places it at rank #2,270 in overall Portuguese word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for debate, with forms such as "dbeate", "ddebate", and "deabte". 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 8 confusable-pair relationships, "deste", "dente", "débito", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Our source data has no etymology on file for this entry, so its spelling is easiest explained by how it's pronounced rather than where it came from. The correct Portuguese form is debate, spelled D-E-B-A-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    discussão
  2. 2
    contestação

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: dbeate,ddebate,deabte,debaet,debatte,debbate,debtae,edbate

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

dbeate2ddebate1deabte2debaet2debatte1debbate1debtae2edbate2
Edit distance from "debate"

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "debate"?
"debate" is spelled D-E-B-A-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /dɨ.ˈba.tɨ/.
What does "debate" mean?
As a noun, "debate" means: discussão
What words are commonly confused with "debate"?
"debate" is commonly confused with "deste", "dente", "débito". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "debate"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "debate" is /dɨ.ˈba.tɨ/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "debate" come from?
"debate" is a Portuguese 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 “debate”

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

  • The one correct Portuguese spelling is D-E-B-A-T-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /dɨ.ˈba.tɨ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “deste” - see the side-by-side comparison. debate vs deste
  • Browse more Portuguese words and confusable pairs in the same reference. Portuguese 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