Have you ever wondered whether the correct spelling is resemble or resamble? You’re not alone. This is a common English spelling mistake because the vowel sound in the middle of the word can be confusing. Many people accidentally write resamble, but only one spelling is correct in standard English.

The correct spelling is resemble. It is a verb that means to look like, sound like, or be similar to someone or something. The word is commonly used when describing physical appearance, personality, behavior, characteristics, or similarities between people, animals, objects, and ideas.

The spelling resamble is incorrect. It is a common misspelling caused by replacing the correct “e” with an “a.” Standard dictionaries in both American and British English recognize only resemble as the correct spelling.

In this guide, you’ll learn the correct spelling, meaning, pronunciation, grammar rules, US vs. UK usage, examples, common mistakes, memory tricks, and frequently asked questions about resemble or resamble.

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Quick Answer

Spelling	Correct?
✅ Resemble	Correct
❌ Resamble	Incorrect

Resemble means to look or be similar to someone or something.

Examples

• The child resembles her mother.
• This building resembles a castle.
• The two brothers resemble each other.

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What Does “Resemble” Mean?

Resemble is a verb.

It means to look like or be similar to someone or something.

Examples

• She resembles her older sister.
• The painting resembles a photograph.
• The two designs resemble each other.
• His voice resembles his father’s.

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Why Is “Resamble” Incorrect?

The spelling resamble is incorrect because the correct word contains an “e” after the “s.”

The correct spelling is:

Resemble

No standard English dictionary recognizes resamble as the correct spelling.

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Grammar Role of Resemble

Resemble functions as a verb.

It is usually followed directly by the person or thing that looks similar.

Correct Structure

Subject + resemble + object

Examples

• She resembles her mother.
• He resembles his father.
• The building resembles a palace.

❌ Do not usually say:

She resembles to her mother.

✅ Correct:

She resembles her mother.

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Resemble in American English

American English uses resemble.

Examples

• The baby resembles her mother.
• This house resembles an old castle.
• The two paintings resemble each other.
• He closely resembles his brother.
• The design resembles the original model.

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Resemble in British English

British English also uses resemble.

Examples

• The child resembles her father.
• The building resembles a traditional cottage.
• The two objects resemble each other.
• His voice resembles his grandfather’s.
• The new design resembles the old one.

There is no spelling difference between American and British English.

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Resemble vs Resamble

Feature	Resemble	Resamble
Correct spelling	✅ Yes	❌ No
Dictionary word	Yes	No
Meaning	To look or be similar	No meaning
Part of speech	Verb	Incorrect spelling
American English	Yes	No
British English	Yes	No

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Pronunciation

Resemble

UK IPA: /rɪˈzem.bəl/

US IPA: /rɪˈzem.bəl/

Pronunciation:

ri-ZEM-buhl

Remember the middle vowel:

reSEMBle

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Common Uses of “Resemble”

People

• Resemble a parent
• Resemble a sibling

Appearance

• Resemble someone closely
• Resemble a famous person

Objects

• Resemble a castle
• Resemble a flower

Ideas and Designs

• Resemble an earlier version
• Resemble a traditional style

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Resemble vs Similar Words

Word	Meaning
Resemble	To look or be similar to
Look like	To have a similar appearance
Similar	Almost the same
Remind	To make someone think of something
Match	To be the same or go well together

Examples

• She resembles her mother.
• She looks like her mother.
• The two designs are similar.

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Common Mistakes

Incorrect

❌ The baby resambles her mother.

Correct

✅ The baby resembles her mother.

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Incorrect

❌ He resambles his father.

Correct

✅ He resembles his father.

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Incorrect

❌ This building resambles a castle.

Correct

✅ This building resembles a castle.

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Incorrect

❌ The two brothers resamble each other.

Correct

✅ The two brothers resemble each other.

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Real-Life Examples

Family

• The child resembles her mother.
• He closely resembles his older brother.

Animals

• This dog resembles a wolf.
• The bird resembles an eagle.

Buildings

• The house resembles a small castle.
• The building resembles a traditional palace.

Art and Design

• The painting resembles a photograph.
• The new logo resembles the original design.

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American English Example Sentences

1. She resembles her mother.
2. The baby closely resembles his father.
3. The building resembles a castle.
4. The two brothers resemble each other.
5. This design resembles the original.
6. The dog resembles a wolf.
7. His voice resembles his grandfather’s.
8. The painting resembles a photograph.
9. The new model resembles the older version.
10. The two flowers resemble each other.

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British English Example Sentences

1. The child resembles her father.
2. The house resembles an old cottage.
3. The two sisters resemble each other.
4. The painting resembles a photograph.
5. The design resembles the original model.
6. The dog resembles a fox.
7. His voice resembles his brother’s.
8. The building resembles a traditional palace.
9. The two objects resemble one another.
10. The new version resembles the previous design.

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Easy Memory Tricks

Think of “Similar”

Resemble = Similar

Both words describe something that looks or seems alike.

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Remember the Middle

The correct spelling contains:

RE-SEM-BLE

Not:

❌ RE-SAM-BLE

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Practice

Write it three times:

Resemble

Resemble

Resemble

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is resemble or resamble correct?

Resemble is the correct spelling.

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Is resamble a real word?

No. It is a common spelling mistake.

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What does resemble mean?

It means to look like or be similar to someone or something.

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Is resemble a verb?

Yes.

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How do you spell resemble?

R-E-S-E-M-B-L-E

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Is the spelling different in British and American English?

No. Both use resemble.

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How do you pronounce resemble?

ri-ZEM-buhl

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People Also Ask

Why do people spell resemble as resamble?

Because the vowel sound in resemble can sound unclear when spoken quickly. Some people mistakenly replace the “e” with an “a.” The correct spelling is resemble.

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Is resemble used in formal writing?

Yes. It is widely used in academic writing, literature, descriptions, reports, and everyday English.

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What’s the easiest way to remember resemble?

Break the word into parts:

RE + SEM + BLE = RESEMBLE

Remember that the middle is spelled “sem,” not “sam.”

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What’s the difference between resemble and look like?

Both can describe similarity. Resemble is a single verb and is often more formal, while look like is a common conversational phrase.

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Conclusion

If you’re choosing between resemble and resamble, the correct spelling is resemble. Resamble is a common spelling mistake caused by replacing the correct “e” with an “a.”

Resemble is a verb that means to look like or be similar to someone or something. It is the standard spelling in both American and British English and is commonly used when describing people, animals, objects, buildings, designs, and ideas. A simple way to remember it is to focus on the middle spelling: re-sem-ble, not re-sam-ble.