attempt

[əˈtɛmpt]

/[əˈtɛmpt]/ noun

The verdict

“attempt” is outside the top-ranked German vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency German
7
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Anstrengung etwas zu erreichen, meist erfolglos

Key facts for attempt
PropertyValue
Headwordattempt
LanguageGerman
Part of speechNoun
IPA[əˈtɛmpt]
Letters7
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “attempt” sits in German frequency

attempt falls outside the top-100,000 ranked German words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The German entry for attempt is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [əˈtɛmpt]. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

No generated misspelling entries exist for attempt in our index, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

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 German form is attempt, spelled A-T-T-E-M-P-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    Anstrengung etwas zu erreichen, meist erfolglos
  2. 2
    das (missglückte) Ergebnis einer Anstrengung
  3. 3
    Anschlag

Synonyms

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "attempt"?
"attempt" is spelled A-T-T-E-M-P-T. The IPA pronunciation is [əˈtɛmpt].
What does "attempt" mean?
As a noun, "attempt" means: Anstrengung etwas zu erreichen, meist erfolglos
How do you pronounce "attempt"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "attempt" is [əˈtɛmpt]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "attempt" come from?
"attempt" 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 “attempt”

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

  • The one correct German spelling is A-T-T-E-M-P-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [əˈtɛmpt] (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