Optativ

[ˈɔptatiːf]

/[ˈɔptatiːf]/ noun

The verdict

“Optativ” is uncommon German (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency German
7
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - einer der Modi: Wunschform des Verbs; dient zum Ausdruck eines Wunsches; in vielen Sprachen (zum Beispiel Altgriechisch), aber nicht im Deutschen

Key facts for Optativ
PropertyValue
HeadwordOptativ
LanguageGerman
Part of speechNoun
IPA[ˈɔptatiːf]
Letters7
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “Optativ” sits in German frequency

Optativ falls outside the top-100,000 ranked German words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

Optativ is uncommon German outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed [ˈɔptatiːf]. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. Gloss: "einer der Modi: Wunschform des Verbs; dient zum Ausdruck eines Wunsches; in vielen Sprachen (zum Beispiel Altgriechisch), aber nicht im Deutschen".

No misspelling variants are generated for Optativ in our index, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Our source data has no etymology on file for this entry, so its spelling is best explained by sound-to-letter mapping rather than etymology. The correct German form is Optativ, spelled O-P-T-A-T-I-V.

Definition

  1. 1
    einer der Modi: Wunschform des Verbs; dient zum Ausdruck eines Wunsches; in vielen Sprachen (zum Beispiel Altgriechisch), aber nicht im Deutschen

Synonyms

Antonyms

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "Optativ"?
"Optativ" is spelled O-P-T-A-T-I-V. The IPA pronunciation is [ˈɔptatiːf].
What does "Optativ" mean?
As a noun, "Optativ" means: einer der Modi: Wunschform des Verbs; dient zum Ausdruck eines Wunsches; in vielen Sprachen (zum Beispiel Altgriechisch), aber nicht im Deutschen
How do you pronounce "Optativ"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "Optativ" is [ˈɔptatiːf]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "Optativ" come from?
"Optativ" 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 “Optativ”

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

  • The one correct German spelling is O-P-T-A-T-I-V - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [ˈɔptatiːf] (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