puffen

[ˈpʊfn̩]

/[ˈpʊfn̩]/ verb

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

The verdict

“puffen” is outside the top-ranked German vocabulary, used as a verb - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency German
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - jemanden anstubsen, leicht stoßen

Key facts for puffen
PropertyValue
Headwordpuffen
LanguageGerman
Part of speechVerb
IPA[ˈpʊfn̩]
Letters6
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “puffen” sits in German frequency

puffen 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.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The German entry for puffen is 6 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [ˈpʊfn̩]. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

puffen doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

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 puffen, spelled P-U-F-F-E-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    jemanden anstubsen, leicht stoßen
  2. 2
    unter Druck erhitzen und dadurch aufblähen
  3. 3
    ein dumpfes, stoßartiges Geräusch von sich geben
  4. 4
    (oft als Stoff oder Tuch) mehr Volumen bekommen, weil Luft darunter kommt und es wölbt; bauschen

Synonyms

anstubsenknuffenaufbauschenaufpludernpludern

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 "puffen"?
"puffen" is spelled P-U-F-F-E-N. The IPA pronunciation is [ˈpʊfn̩].
What does "puffen" mean?
As a verb, "puffen" means: jemanden anstubsen, leicht stoßen
How do you pronounce "puffen"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "puffen" is [ˈpʊfn̩]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "puffen" come from?
"puffen" 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 “puffen”

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

  • The one correct German spelling is P-U-F-F-E-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [ˈpʊfn̩] (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