ghoul

[ɡuːl]

/[ɡuːl]/ noun

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

The verdict

“ghoul” 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
5
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Geist, der Gräber aufbricht und sich von den Körpern der Toten ernährt

Key facts for ghoul
PropertyValue
Headwordghoul
LanguageGerman
Part of speechNoun
IPA[ɡuːl]
Letters5
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “ghoul” sits in German frequency

ghoul 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 ghoul is 5 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [ɡuːl]. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for ghoul, and the word's spelling is regular enough that our generator found nothing worth flagging. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

No documented word history exists 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 ghoul, spelled G-H-O-U-L.

Definition

  1. 1
    Geist, der Gräber aufbricht und sich von den Körpern der Toten ernährt
  2. 2
    Person, die ein unnatürlich hohes Interesse an Tod, Unglücken und anderen schrecklichen Dingen zeigt
  3. 3
    eine Person, die Gräber ausraubt; Grabräuber, Leichenfledderer

This word in other languages

goule(Français)

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 "ghoul"?
"ghoul" is spelled G-H-O-U-L. The IPA pronunciation is [ɡuːl].
What does "ghoul" mean?
As a noun, "ghoul" means: Geist, der Gräber aufbricht und sich von den Körpern der Toten ernährt
How do you pronounce "ghoul"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "ghoul" is [ɡuːl]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "ghoul" come from?
"ghoul" 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 “ghoul”

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

  • The one correct German spelling is G-H-O-U-L - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [ɡuːl] (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