Steffens

[ˈʃtɛfn̩s]

/[ˈʃtɛfn̩s]/ noun

The verdict

“Steffens” is a moderately-common German word, ranked #34,382 in German word frequency and used as a noun.

#34,382
frequency rank, German
8
letters
11
tracked misspellings
5
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Nominativ Plural des Substantivs Steffen

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

Steffens vs Stoffen
75% similar
Steffens vs Stevens
75% similar
Steffens vs steifen
63% similar

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

Key facts for Steffens
PropertyValue
HeadwordSteffens
LanguageGerman
Part of speechNoun
IPA[ˈʃtɛfn̩s]
Letters8
Frequency rank#34,382
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs5
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “Steffens” 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). Steffens 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 Steffens is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [ˈʃtɛfn̩s]. Corpus data places it at rank #34,382 in overall German word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for Steffens, with forms such as "setffens", "ssteffens", and "stefefns". 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 5 confusable-pair relationships, "Stoffen", "Stevens", "steifen", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

No documented word history exists for this headword, so its spelling is easiest explained by how it's pronounced rather than where it came from. The correct German form is Steffens, spelled S-T-E-F-F-E-N-S.

Definition

  1. 1
    Nominativ Plural des Substantivs Steffen
  2. 2
    Genitiv Singular des Substantivs Steffen
  3. 3
    Genitiv Plural des Substantivs Steffen
  4. 4
    Dativ Plural des Substantivs Steffen
  5. 5
    Akkusativ Plural des Substantivs Steffen

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: setffens,ssteffens,stefefns,stefens,steffenns,steffenss,steffesn,steffnes,stfefens,stteffens,tseffens

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

setffens2ssteffens1stefefns2stefens1steffenns1steffenss1steffesn2steffnes2
Edit distance from "Steffens"

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 "Steffens"?
"Steffens" is spelled S-T-E-F-F-E-N-S. The IPA pronunciation is [ˈʃtɛfn̩s].
What does "Steffens" mean?
As a noun, "Steffens" means: Nominativ Plural des Substantivs Steffen
What words are commonly confused with "Steffens"?
"Steffens" is commonly confused with "Stoffen", "Stevens", "steifen". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "Steffens"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "Steffens" is [ˈʃtɛfn̩s]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "Steffens" come from?
"Steffens" is a German word. PlainSpell's reference spans five languages -- English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German -- with definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data for each.
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 “Steffens”

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

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