shepherd

[ˈʃɛpəd]

/[ˈʃɛpəd]/ noun

The verdict

“shepherd” has 13 generated spelling variants in the German index at frequency #32,267. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#32,267
frequency rank, German
107,600
“S” headwords
13
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Schäfer, Schafhirte, Schafhirt; Schäferin, Schafhirtin

Key facts for shepherd
PropertyValue
Headwordshepherd
LanguageGerman
Part of speechNoun
IPA[ˈʃɛpəd]
Letters8
Frequency rank#32,267
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “shepherd” 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). shepherd lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 13 spelling variants around shepherd (IPA [ˈʃɛpəd]), anoun. Corpus frequency is #32,267 among 107,600 “S” headwords. Wiktionary lists 3 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for shepherd, with forms such as "hsepherd", "sehpherd", and "shehperd". 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. No close-neighbour confusable shows up for this headword in our dataset, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Our source data has no etymology on file for this entry, so any spelling logic here comes from how the word's sounds map to letters, not a documented origin story. The correct German form is shepherd, spelled S-H-E-P-H-E-R-D.

Definition

  1. 1
    Schäfer, Schafhirte, Schafhirt; Schäferin, Schafhirtin
  2. 2
    Seelenhirte, Hirte, Hirt, Priester
  3. 3
    Schäferhund

Synonyms

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: hsepherd,sehpherd,shehperd,shepehrd,shephedr,shepherdd,shepherrd,shephherd,shephred,sheppherd,shhepherd,shpeherd,sshepherd

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of shepherd - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

hsepherd2sehpherd2shehperd2shepehrd2shephedr2shepherdd1shepherrd1shephherd1
Edit distance from "shepherd"

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 "shepherd"?
"shepherd" is spelled S-H-E-P-H-E-R-D. The IPA pronunciation is [ˈʃɛpəd].
What does "shepherd" mean?
As a noun, "shepherd" means: Schäfer, Schafhirte, Schafhirt; Schäferin, Schafhirtin
What are common misspellings of "shepherd"?
Common misspellings include "hsepherd", "sehpherd", "shehperd", "shepehrd", "shephedr". The correct spelling is "shepherd".
How do you pronounce "shepherd"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "shepherd" is [ˈʃɛpəd]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "shepherd" come from?
"shepherd" 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 “shepherd”

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

  • The one correct German spelling is S-H-E-P-H-E-R-D - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [ˈʃɛpəd] (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

Same frequency band

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