klagen

[ˈklaːɡn̩]

/[ˈklaːɡn̩]/ verb

The verdict

“klagen” is a regularly-used German word, ranked #4,212 in German word frequency and used as a verb.

#4,212
frequency rank, German
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - einen Verlust bejammern

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

klagen vs Klan
50% similar
klagen vs Kluge
50% similar
klagen vs klagt
67% similar

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

Key facts for klagen
PropertyValue
Headwordklagen
LanguageGerman
Part of speechVerb
IPA[ˈklaːɡn̩]
Letters6
Frequency rank#4,212
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “klagen” 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). klagen 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 klagen is 6 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [ˈklaːɡn̩]. Corpus data places it at rank #4,212 in overall German word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for klagen, with forms such as "kalgen", "kklagen", and "klaegn". 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. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "Klan", "Kluge", "klagt", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

No explicit etymology string is stored for this entry, so its spelling is best read as a straightforward mapping from sound to letter. The correct German form is klagen, spelled K-L-A-G-E-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    einen Verlust bejammern
  2. 2
    Unzufriedenheit über eine Situation äußern
  3. 3
    etwas Trauriges oder Unerfreuliches erzählen
  4. 4
    zu Gericht bringen
  5. 5
    vor Gericht gegen jemanden vorgehen

Synonyms

Antonyms

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: kalgen,kklagen,klaegn,klagenn,klaggen,klagne,klgaen,kllagen,lkagen

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

kalgen2kklagen1klaegn2klagenn1klaggen1klagne2klgaen2kllagen1
Edit distance from "klagen"

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 "klagen"?
"klagen" is spelled K-L-A-G-E-N. The IPA pronunciation is [ˈklaːɡn̩].
What does "klagen" mean?
As a verb, "klagen" means: einen Verlust bejammern
What words are commonly confused with "klagen"?
"klagen" is commonly confused with "Klan", "Kluge", "klagt". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "klagen"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "klagen" is [ˈklaːɡn̩]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "klagen" come from?
"klagen" 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 “klagen”

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

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