curse

[kɜrs]

/[kɜrs]/ verb

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

The verdict

“curse” is an uncommon German word, ranked #64,166 in German word frequency and used as a verb.

#64,166
frequency rank, German
5
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - verfluchen: jemandem einen Fluch auferlegen

Key facts for curse
PropertyValue
Headwordcurse
LanguageGerman
Part of speechVerb
IPA[kɜrs]
Letters5
Frequency rank#64,166
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “curse” 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). curse 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 curse is 5 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [kɜrs]. Corpus data places it at rank #64,166 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 curse, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. It is not paired with a close-neighbour confusable in our dataset, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

This entry's etymology isn't recorded, so its spelling pattern is best understood through pronunciation rather than a traceable origin. The correct German form is curse, spelled C-U-R-S-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    verfluchen: jemandem einen Fluch auferlegen
  2. 2
    fluchen: Schimpfwörter benutzen

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 "curse"?
"curse" is spelled C-U-R-S-E. The IPA pronunciation is [kɜrs].
What does "curse" mean?
As a verb, "curse" means: verfluchen: jemandem einen Fluch auferlegen
How do you pronounce "curse"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "curse" is [kɜrs]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "curse" come from?
"curse" 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 “curse”

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

  • The one correct German spelling is C-U-R-S-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [kɜrs] (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