Höflichkeit

[ˈhøːflɪçkaɪ̯t]

/[ˈhøːflɪçkaɪ̯t]/ noun

The verdict

“Höflichkeit” is a moderately-common German word, ranked #16,458 in German word frequency and used as a noun.

#16,458
frequency rank, German
11
letters
17
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - distanzierte, formale Freundlichkeit; Respekt von einer Person zu einer anderen

Key facts for Höflichkeit
PropertyValue
HeadwordHöflichkeit
LanguageGerman
Part of speechNoun
IPA[ˈhøːflɪçkaɪ̯t]
Letters11
Frequency rank#16,458
Misspellings tracked17
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “Höflichkeit” 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). Höflichkeit 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 Höflichkeit is 11 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [ˈhøːflɪçkaɪ̯t]. Corpus data places it at rank #16,458 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.

Our generated misspelling index lists 17 likely wrong-spelling variants for Höflichkeit, with forms such as "hfölichkeit", "hhöflichkeit", and "höfflichkeit". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. Our dataset records no confusable match here, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

This entry's etymology isn't recorded, leaving phoneme-to-grapheme mapping as the best guide to its spelling rather than a borrowing history. The correct German form is Höflichkeit, spelled H-Ö-F-L-I-C-H-K-E-I-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    distanzierte, formale Freundlichkeit; Respekt von einer Person zu einer anderen
  2. 2
    eine höfliche Geste oder Floskel

Antonyms

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: hfölichkeit,hhöflichkeit,höfflichkeit,höfilchkeit,höflcihkeit,höflicchkeit,höflichekit,höflichhkeit,höflichkeitt,höflichketi,höflichkiet,höflichkkeit,höflickheit,höflihckeit,höfllichkeit,hölfichkeit,öhflichkeit

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of Höflichkeit - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

hfölichkeit2hhöflichkeit1höfflichkeit1höfilchkeit2höflcihkeit2höflicchkeit1höflichekit2höflichhkeit1
Edit distance from "Höflichkeit"

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 "Höflichkeit"?
"Höflichkeit" is spelled H-Ö-F-L-I-C-H-K-E-I-T. The IPA pronunciation is [ˈhøːflɪçkaɪ̯t].
What does "Höflichkeit" mean?
As a noun, "Höflichkeit" means: distanzierte, formale Freundlichkeit; Respekt von einer Person zu einer anderen
What are common misspellings of "Höflichkeit"?
Common misspellings include "hfölichkeit", "hhöflichkeit", "höfflichkeit", "höfilchkeit", "höflcihkeit". The correct spelling is "Höflichkeit".
How do you pronounce "Höflichkeit"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "Höflichkeit" is [ˈhøːflɪçkaɪ̯t]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "Höflichkeit" come from?
"Höflichkeit" 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 “Höflichkeit”

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

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