schema

[ˈskɛːma]

/[ˈskɛːma]/ noun

The verdict

“schema” is a moderately-common German word, ranked #10,556 in German word frequency and used as a noun.

#10,556
frequency rank, German
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
18
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - das Schema, der Plan

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

schema vs scheu
67% similar
schema vs scher
67% similar
schema vs Scherz
50% similar

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

Key facts for schema
PropertyValue
Headwordschema
LanguageGerman
Part of speechNoun
IPA[ˈskɛːma]
Letters6
Frequency rank#10,556
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs18
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “schema” 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). schema 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 schema is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [ˈskɛːma]. Corpus data places it at rank #10,556 in overall German word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for schema, with forms such as "cshema", "scchema", and "scehma". 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 18 confusable-pair relationships, "scheu", "scher", "Scherz", 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 schema, spelled S-C-H-E-M-A.

Definition

  1. 1
    das Schema, der Plan
  2. 2
    der Entwurf
  3. 3
    übertragen die Schablone, das Klischee
  4. 4
    der Entwurf, das Gerüst

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: cshema,scchema,scehma,scheam,schemma,schhema,schmea,shcema,sschema

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of schema - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

cshema2scchema1scehma2scheam2schemma1schhema1schmea2shcema2
Edit distance from "schema"

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 "schema"?
"schema" is spelled S-C-H-E-M-A. The IPA pronunciation is [ˈskɛːma].
What does "schema" mean?
As a noun, "schema" means: das Schema, der Plan
What words are commonly confused with "schema"?
"schema" is commonly confused with "scheu", "scher", "Scherz". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "schema"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "schema" is [ˈskɛːma]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "schema" come from?
"schema" 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 “schema”

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

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