Barrel or Barrell: Which Spelling Is Correct?

Barrel or Barrell is a common spelling confusion. The correct spelling for the standard English word is barrel. It refers to a large cylindrical container, a unit of measurement, or several other objects shaped like one. Major dictionary sources list barrel as the standard headword.

Barrel or Barrell is a common spelling confusion because both forms look almost identical. Barrel is the correct and standard spelling in English, while Barrell is generally considered a misspelling. A barrel is a large round container, often used to store liquids such as oil, wine, or water.

If you are unsure which spelling to use, choose barrel with one “l” at the end. In this guide, you will learn the difference between Barrel and Barrell, see simple examples, and understand how to use the correct spelling confidently.

Barrell is not the standard spelling of this common noun. You may still see it in proper names, brand names, or surnames, so the extra l is not always an accidental spelling. For normal English writing, however, barrel is the form you should use.

Quick Answer

Barrel is the correct spelling for the common English word.

Barrell is not the standard spelling of the noun. It can appear as a proper name or part of a brand name, so context matters.

Correct

• A wooden barrel stood in the cellar.
• The company shipped a barrel of oil.
• The horse has a broad barrel.

Usually incorrect

• A wooden barrell stood in the cellar.
• The company shipped a barrell of oil.
• The horse has a broad barrell.

What Does Barrel Mean?

Barrel is mainly used as a noun. It describes a cylindrical container that is often wider around the middle than at the ends.

It can also describe the amount that a barrel holds. In the oil industry, for example, a barrel is commonly used as a unit of measurement. Dictionary.com also lists meanings connected with machinery, firearms, animals, and other barrel-shaped objects.

The word can also work as a verb. To barrel means to move very quickly in informal usage. For example:

The truck barreled down the road.

What Does Barrell Mean?

Barrell is not the standard spelling for the common noun barrel.

If you are talking about a container, measurement, animal body shape, or similar object, use barrel.

However, Barrell can occur as part of a proper name. For example, Barrell Craft Spirits uses the spelling as a brand name. That does not make barrell an alternative spelling of the ordinary noun. Current dictionary and usage results also show this distinction in real-world names.

Barrel vs Barrell Comparison

Feature	Barrel	Barrell
Standard English word	Yes	No
Common noun	Yes	No
Standard dictionary headword	Yes	No
Means a cylindrical container	Yes	No
Used as a verb	Yes	No
Can appear in proper names	Yes	Yes
Recommended in normal writing	Yes	No

Why Is Barrel Sometimes Misspelled as Barrell?

The confusion usually comes from the spelling pattern.

Many English words double their final consonant before certain suffixes. Writers may therefore assume that barrel needs another l in other forms or that the base word itself contains two final letters.

There is also a genuine source of confusion in related forms. Dictionary.com lists barreled and barreling in American English, while barrelled and barrelling are especially associated with British English.

This means writers may see two l’s in forms of the verb and mistakenly transfer that spelling to the base word.

Remember that the base noun is simply barrel.

British and American Usage

The noun is spelled barrel in both British and American English.

The difference becomes more noticeable in some verb forms.

American English

• barrel
• barreled
• barreling

British English

• barrel
• barrelled
• barrelling

Dictionary.com identifies barrelled and barrelling as especially British forms.

So, the extra l can be correct in certain forms derived from barrel, but that does not make barrell the correct base spelling.

Origin of the Word Barrel

The word barrel has a long history in English. Dictionary.com traces it to Middle English barell, from Anglo-French baril and Old French barril, with roots connected to Latin forms for a small cask.

This history helps explain why the spelling developed differently from words that follow modern English spelling patterns.

Common Examples With Barrel

Here are some natural examples:

• We stored the wine in a wooden barrel.
• The farmer filled the barrel with water.
• The oil price rose by several dollars per barrel.
• The old barrel was too heavy to move.
• The horse has a strong barrel.
• The machine contains a rotating barrel.
• He ran barreling toward the finish line.

The last example uses a derived verb form. In American English, the standard spelling is barreling, while British English commonly uses barrelling.

Common Mistakes

A frequent mistake is adding an unnecessary second l to the base word.

Incorrect: The water was stored in a barrell.

Correct: The water was stored in a barrel.

Another mistake is assuming that the spelling of barrelled means the noun must be barrell.

Incorrect: We bought a barrell of oil.

Correct: We bought a barrel of oil.

The spelling changes in some inflected forms because of English spelling conventions. The base noun remains barrel.

Easy Memory Trick

Think of the word as:

BAR + REL = BARREL

There is only one l at the end of the base word.

Then remember this useful distinction:

Barrel = the noun.

Barreled or barrelled = certain past-tense forms.

This simple rule can help you avoid adding an unnecessary l when writing the basic word.

Professional Writing Recommendation

Use barrel in standard English writing when you mean the container, measurement, or object.

Barreled in American English and barrelled in British English when you need the past tense of the verb.

Use Barrell only when it is part of a specific proper name, company name, surname, or other officially styled name.

For schoolwork, business writing, articles, reports, and general communication, barrel is the safe and correct choice for the standard noun.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is barrel the correct spelling?

Yes. Barrel is the standard spelling of the common English noun and verb.

Is barrell a word?

Barrell is not the standard spelling of the common noun barrel. It can appear in proper names and brand names.

Is barrell ever correct?

Yes, but mainly when it is used as a proper name or official name. It should not replace barrel in ordinary English.

Is barrel British or American?

Barrel is used in both British and American English. Some related verb forms differ, such as barreled in American English and barrelled in British English.

Why does barrel sometimes have two l’s?

Some derived forms use two l’s. For example, British English commonly uses barrelled and barrelling. This can make writers mistakenly spell the base word as barrell.

What is the plural of barrel?

The plural is barrels.

What is the past tense of barrel?

In American English, the past tense is barreled. British English commonly uses barrelled.

Conclusion

The correct spelling is barrel, not barrell, when you are using the standard English word for a container, measurement, or related object. Barrell may appear in proper names, but it is not the normal spelling of the noun.

The main source of confusion is the double l found in forms such as barrelled and barrelling. Keep the base word simple: barrel.