Heimlichkeit

[ˈhaɪ̯mlɪçkaɪ̯t]

/[ˈhaɪ̯mlɪçkaɪ̯t]/ noun

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

The verdict

“Heimlichkeit” is an uncommon German word, ranked #91,725 in German word frequency and used as a noun.

#91,725
frequency rank, German
12
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Eigenschaft, unbekannt/verborgen zu sein

Key facts for Heimlichkeit
PropertyValue
HeadwordHeimlichkeit
LanguageGerman
Part of speechNoun
IPA[ˈhaɪ̯mlɪçkaɪ̯t]
Letters12
Frequency rank#91,725
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “Heimlichkeit” 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). Heimlichkeit 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 Heimlichkeit is 12 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [ˈhaɪ̯mlɪçkaɪ̯t]. Corpus data places it at rank #91,725 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.

Heimlichkeit doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable German rules. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, 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 is easiest explained by how it's pronounced rather than where it came from. The correct German form is Heimlichkeit, spelled H-E-I-M-L-I-C-H-K-E-I-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    Eigenschaft, unbekannt/verborgen zu sein
  2. 2
    etwas, das man für sich behält/nicht weitergibt

Antonyms

Bekanntheit

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 "Heimlichkeit"?
"Heimlichkeit" is spelled H-E-I-M-L-I-C-H-K-E-I-T. The IPA pronunciation is [ˈhaɪ̯mlɪçkaɪ̯t].
What does "Heimlichkeit" mean?
As a noun, "Heimlichkeit" means: Eigenschaft, unbekannt/verborgen zu sein
How do you pronounce "Heimlichkeit"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "Heimlichkeit" is [ˈhaɪ̯mlɪçkaɪ̯t]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "Heimlichkeit" come from?
"Heimlichkeit" 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 “Heimlichkeit”

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

  • The one correct German spelling is H-E-I-M-L-I-C-H-K-E-I-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [ˈhaɪ̯mlɪçkaɪ̯t] (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