Smalltalk

[ˈsmɔːltɔːk]

/[ˈsmɔːltɔːk]/ noun

The verdict

“Smalltalk” is a moderately-common German word, ranked #25,768 in German word frequency and used as a noun.

#25,768
frequency rank, German
9
letters
13
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - ein Gespräch über alltägliche, allgemeine und/oder unwichtige Dinge

Key facts for Smalltalk
PropertyValue
HeadwordSmalltalk
LanguageGerman
Part of speechNoun
IPA[ˈsmɔːltɔːk]
Letters9
Frequency rank#25,768
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “Smalltalk” 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). Smalltalk 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 Smalltalk is 9 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [ˈsmɔːltɔːk]. Corpus data places it at rank #25,768 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.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for Smalltalk, with forms such as "msalltalk", "samlltalk", and "smallatlk". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. No close-neighbour confusable shows up for this headword in our dataset, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

This headword's origin isn't recorded in our source data, so its spelling pattern is best understood through pronunciation rather than a traceable origin. The correct German form is Smalltalk, spelled S-M-A-L-L-T-A-L-K.

Definition

  1. 1
    ein Gespräch über alltägliche, allgemeine und/oder unwichtige Dinge
  2. 2
    Name einer der ersten objektorientierten Programmiersprachen

Synonyms

chit-chat

Antonyms

Kohyponymie

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: msalltalk,samlltalk,smallatlk,smalltakl,smalltalkk,smalltallk,smalltlak,smallttalk,smaltalk,smaltlalk,smlaltalk,smmalltalk,ssmalltalk

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

msalltalk2samlltalk2smallatlk2smalltakl2smalltalkk1smalltallk1smalltlak2smallttalk1
Edit distance from "Smalltalk"

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 "Smalltalk"?
"Smalltalk" is spelled S-M-A-L-L-T-A-L-K. The IPA pronunciation is [ˈsmɔːltɔːk].
What does "Smalltalk" mean?
As a noun, "Smalltalk" means: ein Gespräch über alltägliche, allgemeine und/oder unwichtige Dinge
What are common misspellings of "Smalltalk"?
Common misspellings include "msalltalk", "samlltalk", "smallatlk", "smalltakl", "smalltalkk". The correct spelling is "Smalltalk".
How do you pronounce "Smalltalk"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "Smalltalk" is [ˈsmɔːltɔːk]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "Smalltalk" come from?
"Smalltalk" 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 “Smalltalk”

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

  • The one correct German spelling is S-M-A-L-L-T-A-L-K - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [ˈsmɔːltɔːk] (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