externer

[ˌɛksˈtɛʁnɐ]

/[ˌɛksˈtɛʁnɐ]/ adj

The verdict

“externer” is a moderately-common German word, ranked #23,926 in German word frequency and used as an adjective.

#23,926
frequency rank, German
8
letters
12
tracked misspellings
5
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Nominativ Singular Maskulinum der starken Flexion des Positivs des Adjektivs extern

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

externer vs externes
88% similar
externer vs extern
75% similar
externer vs externe
88% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for externer
PropertyValue
Headwordexterner
LanguageGerman
Part of speechAdjective
IPA[ˌɛksˈtɛʁnɐ]
Letters8
Frequency rank#23,926
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs5
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “externer” 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). externer 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 externer is 8 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [ˌɛksˈtɛʁnɐ]. Corpus data places it at rank #23,926 in overall German word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for externer, with forms such as "etxerner", "exetrner", and "extenrer". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 5 confusable-pair relationships, "externes", "extern", "externe", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

This entry carries no recorded etymology, so its spelling is best explained by sound-to-letter mapping rather than etymology. The correct German form is externer, spelled E-X-T-E-R-N-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    Nominativ Singular Maskulinum der starken Flexion des Positivs des Adjektivs extern
  2. 2
    Genitiv Singular Femininum der starken Flexion des Positivs des Adjektivs extern
  3. 3
    Dativ Singular Femininum der starken Flexion des Positivs des Adjektivs extern
  4. 4
    Genitiv Plural alle Genera der starken Flexion des Positivs des Adjektivs extern
  5. 5
    Nominativ Singular Maskulinum der gemischten Flexion des Positivs des Adjektivs extern

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: etxerner,exetrner,extenrer,exterenr,externerr,externner,externre,exterrner,extrener,extterner,exxterner,xeterner

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of externer - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

etxerner2exetrner2extenrer2exterenr2externerr1externner1externre2exterrner1
Edit distance from "externer"

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 "externer"?
"externer" is spelled E-X-T-E-R-N-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is [ˌɛksˈtɛʁnɐ].
What does "externer" mean?
As an adjective, "externer" means: Nominativ Singular Maskulinum der starken Flexion des Positivs des Adjektivs extern
What words are commonly confused with "externer"?
"externer" is commonly confused with "externes", "extern", "externe". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "externer"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "externer" is [ˌɛksˈtɛʁnɐ]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "externer" come from?
"externer" is a German word. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data for this and other words across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German on PlainSpell.
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 “externer”

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

  • The one correct German spelling is E-X-T-E-R-N-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [ˌɛksˈtɛʁnɐ] (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “externes” - see the side-by-side comparison. externer vs externes
  • 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