scharf

[ʃaʁf]

/[ʃaʁf]/ adj

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

The verdict

“scharf” is a regularly-used German word, ranked #3,070 in German word frequency and used as an adjective.

#3,070
frequency rank, German
6
letters
10
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - fähig, etwas zu (zer)schneiden oder zu stechen

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

scharf vs Schau
50% similar
scharf vs schuf
67% similar
scharf vs share
67% similar

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

Key facts for scharf
PropertyValue
Headwordscharf
LanguageGerman
Part of speechAdjective
IPA[ʃaʁf]
Letters6
Frequency rank#3,070
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “scharf” 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). scharf 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 scharf is 6 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [ʃaʁf]. Corpus data places it at rank #3,070 in overall German word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 17 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for scharf, with forms such as "csharf", "scahrf", and "sccharf". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "Schau", "schuf", "share", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

This entry's etymology isn't recorded, so its spelling is best read as a straightforward mapping from sound to letter. The correct German form is scharf, spelled S-C-H-A-R-F.

Definition

  1. 1
    fähig, etwas zu (zer)schneiden oder zu stechen
  2. 2
    spitz, mit spitzem Winkel
  3. 3
    sehr eng, mit starker Beugung/Richtungsänderung
  4. 4
    deutlich konturiert, mit klarem Umriss
  5. 5
    fähig, auf der Zunge ein schmerzhaftes Brennen auszulösen
  6. 6
    in der Nase beißend
  7. 7
    grell
  8. 8
    schrill, in unangenehmer Lautstärke
  9. 9
    zur Bezeichnung kalter, rauer Witterung
  10. 10
    reizend, (sexuell) attraktiv, begehrenswert, sehr anziehend
  11. 11
    mit besonderer Aufmerksamkeit; fähig dazu, schnell etwas nicht offensichtliches zu erkennen; findig
  12. 12
    keine Attrappe seiend oder aktiviert worden seiend
  13. 13
    sehr hart und offensiv
  14. 14
    abgerichtet, aggressiv
  15. 15
    von zerstörender, ätzender Wirkung
  16. 16
    von hoher Intensität (Schnelligkeit, Kraft, Energie)
  17. 17
    erhöhte Geräuschintensität stimmloser im Vergleich zu stimmhaften Phonemen

Synonyms

engdeutlichpikantwürzigbeißendstrengheißrattiggeilschroffätzend

Antonyms

stumpfunscharfverschwommenmild

This word in other languages

sharp-edged(English)filoso(Español)tranchant(Français)picante(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: csharf,scahrf,sccharf,schafr,scharff,scharrf,schharf,schraf,shcarf,sscharf

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

csharf2scahrf2sccharf1schafr2scharff1scharrf1schharf1schraf2
Edit distance from "scharf"

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 "scharf"?
"scharf" is spelled S-C-H-A-R-F. The IPA pronunciation is [ʃaʁf].
What does "scharf" mean?
As an adjective, "scharf" means: fähig, etwas zu (zer)schneiden oder zu stechen
What words are commonly confused with "scharf"?
"scharf" is commonly confused with "Schau", "schuf", "share". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "scharf"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "scharf" is [ʃaʁf]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "scharf" come from?
"scharf" 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 “scharf”

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

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