Krebs

[kʁeːps]

/[kʁeːps]/ noun

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

The verdict

“Krebs” is a regularly-used German word, ranked #3,598 in German word frequency and used as a noun.

#3,598
frequency rank, German
5
letters
8
tracked misspellings
18
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - ein Tier des Stamms Krebstiere (Crustacea), umgangssprachlich meist nur ein Tier der Klasse Höhere Krebse (Malacostraca)

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

Krebs vs Kris
60% similar
Krebs vs Kreis
80% similar
Krebs vs Kreuz
60% similar

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

Key facts for Krebs
PropertyValue
HeadwordKrebs
LanguageGerman
Part of speechNoun
IPA[kʁeːps]
Letters5
Frequency rank#3,598
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs18
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “Krebs” 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). Krebs 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 Krebs is 5 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [kʁeːps]. Corpus data places it at rank #3,598 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 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for Krebs, with forms such as "kerbs", "kkrebs", and "krbes". 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 18 confusable-pair relationships, "Kris", "Kreis", "Kreuz", 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 pattern is best understood through pronunciation rather than a traceable origin. The correct German form is Krebs, spelled K-R-E-B-S.

Definition

  1. 1
    ein Tier des Stamms Krebstiere (Crustacea), umgangssprachlich meist nur ein Tier der Klasse Höhere Krebse (Malacostraca)
  2. 2
    eine bösartige Tumorerkrankung
  3. 3
    ein zu den Tierkreiszeichen zählendes, relativ lichtschwaches Sternbild in Form eines kopfstehenden "Y" am nördlichen Sternenhimmel
  4. 4
    eines der zwölf Tierkreiszeichen (der umgangssprachlich so genannten Sternzeichen)
  5. 5
    Rückwärtsspielen eines Motivs (Spiegeln der Notenpassage an der Vertikalen)

Synonyms

KrebstierKrustentierKarzinomKrebsleidenSternbild KrebsKrebsgang

Antonyms

InsektSkorpiongutartige Wucherungbenigner TumorBindegewebswucherungFibroadenomFettgewebswucherungLipomZysteWidderStierZwillingeLöweJungfrauWaageSkorpionSchützeSteinbockWassermannFischeInversionUmkehrungVergrößerungVerkleinerung

This word in other languages

crayfish(English)cangrejo(Español)crabe(Français)caranguejo(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: kerbs,kkrebs,krbes,krebbs,krebss,kresb,krrebs,rkebs

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of Krebs - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

kerbs2kkrebs1krbes2krebbs1krebss1kresb2krrebs1rkebs2
Edit distance from "Krebs"

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 "Krebs"?
"Krebs" is spelled K-R-E-B-S. The IPA pronunciation is [kʁeːps].
What does "Krebs" mean?
As a noun, "Krebs" means: ein Tier des Stamms Krebstiere (Crustacea), umgangssprachlich meist nur ein Tier der Klasse Höhere Krebse (Malacostraca)
What words are commonly confused with "Krebs"?
"Krebs" is commonly confused with "Kris", "Kreis", "Kreuz". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "Krebs"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "Krebs" is [kʁeːps]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "Krebs" come from?
"Krebs" 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 “Krebs”

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

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