backslash

[ˈbækˌslæʃ]

/[ˈbækˌslæʃ]/ noun

The verdict

“backslash” is uncommon German (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency German
9
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - EDV:Ein Sonderzeichen: \

Corpus desk

Index DE-backslash · backslash · German

backslash · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-LONG 9 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "B" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for backslash
PropertyValue
Headwordbackslash
LanguageGerman
Part of speechNoun
IPA[ˈbækˌslæʃ]
Letters9
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Langschwanz-Rang von „backslash“ im Deutschen

backslashliegt außerhalb der 100.000 häufigsten deutschen Wörter, im Langschwanz technischer, archaischer oder seltener Formen, genau dort, wo Schreibzweifeln zuschlagen.

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

Rare enough to double-check

backslash is uncommon German outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed [ˈbækˌslæʃ]. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. Gloss: "EDV:Ein Sonderzeichen: \".

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for backslash, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

Wiktionary doesn't record an etymology for this headword, so its spelling is easiest explained by how it's pronounced rather than where it came from. The correct German form is backslash, spelled B-A-C-K-S-L-A-S-H.

Definition

  1. 1
    EDV:Ein Sonderzeichen: \

Recorded use

Wiktionary example

These source excerpts show how backslash appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. You forgot the backslash.

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 "backslash"?
"backslash" is spelled B-A-C-K-S-L-A-S-H. The IPA pronunciation is [ˈbækˌslæʃ].
What does "backslash" mean?
As a noun, "backslash" means: EDV:Ein Sonderzeichen: \
How do you pronounce "backslash"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "backslash" is [ˈbækˌslæʃ]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "backslash" come from?
"backslash" 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.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list