Bildungsroman

[ˈbɪldʊŋsʁoˌmaːn]

/[ˈbɪldʊŋsʁoˌmaːn]/ noun

The verdict

“Bildungsroman” 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
13
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Roman, in dem die geistige und charakterliche Bildung der Hauptfiguren im Vordergrund steht und nachvollziehbar dargestellt wird

Key facts for Bildungsroman
PropertyValue
HeadwordBildungsroman
LanguageGerman
Part of speechNoun
IPA[ˈbɪldʊŋsʁoˌmaːn]
Letters13
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “Bildungsroman” sits in German frequency

Bildungsroman 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 Bildungsroman is 13 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [ˈbɪldʊŋsʁoˌmaːn]. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. The dominant gloss from Wiktionary reads: "Roman, in dem die geistige und charakterliche Bildung der Hauptfiguren im Vordergrund steht und nachvollziehbar dargestellt wird".

No misspelling variants are generated for Bildungsroman in our index, a sign its spelling follows regular German conventions. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

No documented word history exists for this headword, so its spelling is best read as a straightforward mapping from sound to letter. The correct German form is Bildungsroman, spelled B-I-L-D-U-N-G-S-R-O-M-A-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    Roman, in dem die geistige und charakterliche Bildung der Hauptfiguren im Vordergrund steht und nachvollziehbar dargestellt wird

Antonyms

Antibildungsroman

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 "Bildungsroman"?
"Bildungsroman" is spelled B-I-L-D-U-N-G-S-R-O-M-A-N. The IPA pronunciation is [ˈbɪldʊŋsʁoˌmaːn].
What does "Bildungsroman" mean?
As a noun, "Bildungsroman" means: Roman, in dem die geistige und charakterliche Bildung der Hauptfiguren im Vordergrund steht und nachvollziehbar dargestellt wird
How do you pronounce "Bildungsroman"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "Bildungsroman" is [ˈbɪldʊŋsʁoˌmaːn]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "Bildungsroman" come from?
"Bildungsroman" is a German word. PlainSpell covers definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German.
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 “Bildungsroman”

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

  • The one correct German spelling is B-I-L-D-U-N-G-S-R-O-M-A-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [ˈbɪldʊŋsʁoˌmaːn] (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