custody

[ˈkʌstədɪ]

/[ˈkʌstədɪ]/ noun

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

The verdict

“custody” 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) - die Aufsicht

Key facts for custody
PropertyValue
Headwordcustody
LanguageGerman
Part of speechNoun
IPA[ˈkʌstədɪ]
Letters7
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “custody” sits in German frequency

custody 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 custody is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [ˈkʌstədɪ]. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

custody has no tracked misspelling variants, a sign its spelling follows regular German conventions. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.

This entry carries no recorded etymology, so its spelling is best read as a straightforward mapping from sound to letter. The correct German form is custody, spelled C-U-S-T-O-D-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    die Aufsicht
  2. 2
    die Obhut, der Schutz
  3. 3
    der Gewahrsam, die Haft, die Untersuchungshaft, die Verwahrung
  4. 4
    das Sorgerecht

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 "custody"?
"custody" is spelled C-U-S-T-O-D-Y. The IPA pronunciation is [ˈkʌstədɪ].
What does "custody" mean?
As a noun, "custody" means: die Aufsicht
How do you pronounce "custody"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "custody" is [ˈkʌstədɪ]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "custody" come from?
"custody" 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 “custody”

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

  • The one correct German spelling is C-U-S-T-O-D-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [ˈkʌstədɪ] (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