layer

[…]

/[…]/ noun

The verdict

“layer” is a moderately-common German word, ranked #31,150 in German word frequency and used as a noun.

#31,150
frequency rank, German
5
letters
7
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Schicht

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

layer vs leer
60% similar
layer vs Leser
40% similar
layer vs Liter
40% similar

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

Key facts for layer
PropertyValue
Headwordlayer
LanguageGerman
Part of speechNoun
IPA[…]
Letters5
Frequency rank#31,150
Misspellings tracked7
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “layer” 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). layer 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 layer is 5 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as […]. Corpus data places it at rank #31,150 in overall German word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. The dominant gloss from Wiktionary reads: "Schicht".

Our generated misspelling index lists 7 likely wrong-spelling variants for layer, with forms such as "alyer", "laeyr", and "layerr". 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, "leer", "Leser", "Liter", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Wiktionary doesn't record an etymology 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 layer, spelled L-A-Y-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    Schicht

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: alyer,laeyr,layerr,layre,layyer,llayer,lyaer

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of layer - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

alyer2laeyr2layerr1layre2layyer1llayer1lyaer2
Edit distance from "layer"

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 "layer"?
"layer" is spelled L-A-Y-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is […].
What does "layer" mean?
As a noun, "layer" means: Schicht
What words are commonly confused with "layer"?
"layer" is commonly confused with "leer", "Leser", "Liter". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "layer"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "layer" is […]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "layer" come from?
"layer" 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 “layer”

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

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