ability

[əˈbɪl.ə.ti]

/[əˈbɪl.ə.ti]/ noun

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

The verdict

“ability” is an uncommon German word, ranked #91,238 in German word frequency and used as a noun.

#91,238
frequency rank, German
7
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Fähigkeit, Befähigung, Können, Leistungsfähigkeit, Handfertigkeit

Key facts for ability
PropertyValue
Headwordability
LanguageGerman
Part of speechNoun
IPA[əˈbɪl.ə.ti]
Letters7
Frequency rank#91,238
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “ability” sits in German 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). ability 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 German entry for ability is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [əˈbɪl.ə.ti]. Corpus data places it at rank #91,238 in overall German word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for ability, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Our source data has no etymology on file for this entry, so its spelling is best explained by sound-to-letter mapping rather than etymology. The correct German form is ability, spelled A-B-I-L-I-T-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    Fähigkeit, Befähigung, Können, Leistungsfähigkeit, Handfertigkeit
  2. 2
    geistige Anlagen

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "ability"?
"ability" is spelled A-B-I-L-I-T-Y. The IPA pronunciation is [əˈbɪl.ə.ti].
What does "ability" mean?
As a noun, "ability" means: Fähigkeit, Befähigung, Können, Leistungsfähigkeit, Handfertigkeit
How do you pronounce "ability"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "ability" is [əˈbɪl.ə.ti]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "ability" come from?
"ability" is a German 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 “ability”

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

  • The one correct German spelling is A-B-I-L-I-T-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [əˈbɪl.ə.ti] (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more German words and confusable pairs in the same reference. German 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