seltener

[ˈzɛltənɐ]

/[ˈzɛltənɐ]/ adj

The verdict

“seltener” is a regularly-used German word, ranked #5,115 in German word frequency and used as an adjective.

#5,115
frequency rank, German
8
letters
12
tracked misspellings
4
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Nominativ Singular Maskulinum der starken Flexion des Positivs des Adjektivs selten

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

seltener vs seltenes
88% similar
seltener vs selten
75% similar
seltener vs seltene
88% similar

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

Key facts for seltener
PropertyValue
Headwordseltener
LanguageGerman
Part of speechAdjective
IPA[ˈzɛltənɐ]
Letters8
Frequency rank#5,115
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs4
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “seltener” 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). seltener 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 seltener is 8 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [ˈzɛltənɐ]. Corpus data places it at rank #5,115 in overall German word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for seltener, with forms such as "esltener", "seletner", and "selltener". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 4 confusable-pair relationships, "seltenes", "selten", "seltene", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

This headword's origin isn't recorded in our source data, so its spelling is best read as a straightforward mapping from sound to letter. The correct German form is seltener, spelled S-E-L-T-E-N-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    Nominativ Singular Maskulinum der starken Flexion des Positivs des Adjektivs selten
  2. 2
    Genitiv Singular Femininum der starken Flexion des Positivs des Adjektivs selten
  3. 3
    Dativ Singular Femininum der starken Flexion des Positivs des Adjektivs selten
  4. 4
    Genitiv Plural alle Genera der starken Flexion des Positivs des Adjektivs selten
  5. 5
    Nominativ Singular Maskulinum der gemischten Flexion des Positivs des Adjektivs selten

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: esltener,seletner,selltener,selteenr,seltenerr,seltenner,seltenre,seltneer,selttener,setlener,sletener,sseltener

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

esltener2seletner2selltener1selteenr2seltenerr1seltenner1seltenre2seltneer2
Edit distance from "seltener"

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 "seltener"?
"seltener" is spelled S-E-L-T-E-N-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is [ˈzɛltənɐ].
What does "seltener" mean?
As an adjective, "seltener" means: Nominativ Singular Maskulinum der starken Flexion des Positivs des Adjektivs selten
What words are commonly confused with "seltener"?
"seltener" is commonly confused with "seltenes", "selten", "seltene". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "seltener"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "seltener" is [ˈzɛltənɐ]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "seltener" come from?
"seltener" 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 “seltener”

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

  • The one correct German spelling is S-E-L-T-E-N-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [ˈzɛltənɐ] (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “seltenes” - see the side-by-side comparison. seltener vs seltenes
  • 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