Nova

[ˈnoːva]

/[ˈnoːva]/ noun

The verdict

“Nova” is a moderately-common German word, ranked #12,553 in German word frequency and used as a noun.

#12,553
frequency rank, German
4
letters
5
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Helligkeitsausbruch in einem engen Doppelsternsystem, das durch eine explosive Zündung des Wasserstoffbrennens auf der Oberfläche eines Weißen Zwergs entsteht

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

Nova vs NSA
25% similar
Nova vs now
25% similar
Nova vs NVA
25% similar

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

Key facts for Nova
PropertyValue
HeadwordNova
LanguageGerman
Part of speechNoun
IPA[ˈnoːva]
Letters4
Frequency rank#12,553
Misspellings tracked5
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “Nova” 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). Nova 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 Nova is 4 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [ˈnoːva]. Corpus data places it at rank #12,553 in overall German word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. The dominant gloss from Wiktionary reads: "Helligkeitsausbruch in einem engen Doppelsternsystem, das durch eine explosive Zündung des Wasserstoffbrennens auf der Oberfläche eines Weißen Zwergs entsteht".

Our generated misspelling index lists 5 likely wrong-spelling variants for Nova, with forms such as "nnova", "noav", and "novva". 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, "NSA", "now", "NVA", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

This entry's etymology isn't recorded, so its spelling pattern is best understood through pronunciation rather than a traceable origin. The correct German form is Nova, spelled N-O-V-A.

Definition

  1. 1
    Helligkeitsausbruch in einem engen Doppelsternsystem, das durch eine explosive Zündung des Wasserstoffbrennens auf der Oberfläche eines Weißen Zwergs entsteht

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: nnova,noav,novva,nvoa,onva

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of Nova - 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.

nnova1noav2novva1nvoa2onva2
Edit distance from "Nova"

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 "Nova"?
"Nova" is spelled N-O-V-A. The IPA pronunciation is [ˈnoːva].
What does "Nova" mean?
As a noun, "Nova" means: Helligkeitsausbruch in einem engen Doppelsternsystem, das durch eine explosive Zündung des Wasserstoffbrennens auf der Oberfläche eines Weißen Zwergs entsteht
What words are commonly confused with "Nova"?
"Nova" is commonly confused with "NSA", "now", "NVA". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "Nova"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "Nova" is [ˈnoːva]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "Nova" come from?
"Nova" 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 “Nova”

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

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