retreat

[rɪˈtriːt]

/[rɪˈtriːt]/ verb

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

The verdict

“retreat” is an uncommon German word, ranked #97,604 in German word frequency and used as a verb.

#97,604
frequency rank, German
7
letters

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

Key facts for retreat
PropertyValue
Headwordretreat
LanguageGerman
Part of speechVerb
IPA[rɪˈtriːt]
Letters7
Frequency rank#97,604
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “retreat” 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). retreat 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 retreat is 7 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [rɪˈtriːt]. Corpus data places it at rank #97,604 in overall German word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

retreat has no tracked misspelling variants, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable German rules. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Our source data has no etymology on file for this entry, so its spelling is best read as a straightforward mapping from sound to letter. The correct German form is retreat, spelled R-E-T-R-E-A-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    zurückziehen
  2. 2
    zurückweichen

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 "retreat"?
"retreat" is spelled R-E-T-R-E-A-T. The IPA pronunciation is [rɪˈtriːt].
What does "retreat" mean?
As a verb, "retreat" means: zurückziehen
How do you pronounce "retreat"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "retreat" is [rɪˈtriːt]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "retreat" come from?
"retreat" 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 “retreat”

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

  • The one correct German spelling is R-E-T-R-E-A-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [rɪˈtriːt] (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