Überläufer

[ˈyːbɐˌlɔɪ̯fɐ]

/[ˈyːbɐˌlɔɪ̯fɐ]/ noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

The verdict

“Überläufer” is uncommon German (frequency #59,382 among 5,800 “Ü” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#59,382
frequency rank, German
5,800
“Ü” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Person, die auf die Seite des Gegners wechselt

Key facts for Überläufer
PropertyValue
HeadwordÜberläufer
LanguageGerman
Part of speechNoun
IPA[ˈyːbɐˌlɔɪ̯fɐ]
Letters10
Frequency rank#59,382
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “Überläufer” 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). Überläufer lands here:

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

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

Rare enough to double-check

Überläufer is uncommon German at frequency #59,382 among 5,800 “Ü” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed [ˈyːbɐˌlɔɪ̯fɐ]. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.

Our edit-distance generator produced no likely misspellings for Überläufer, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable German rules. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

This entry carries no recorded etymology, so its spelling is easiest explained by how it's pronounced rather than where it came from. The correct German form is Überläufer, spelled Ü-B-E-R-L-Ä-U-F-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    Person, die auf die Seite des Gegners wechselt
  2. 2
    Wildschwein im zweiten Lebensjahr

Synonyms

Deserteur

This word in other languages

turncoat(English)transfuge(Français)

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 "Überläufer"?
"Überläufer" is spelled Ü-B-E-R-L-Ä-U-F-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is [ˈyːbɐˌlɔɪ̯fɐ].
What does "Überläufer" mean?
As a noun, "Überläufer" means: Person, die auf die Seite des Gegners wechselt
How do you pronounce "Überläufer"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "Überläufer" is [ˈyːbɐˌlɔɪ̯fɐ]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "Überläufer" come from?
"Überläufer" 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 “Überläufer”

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

  • The one correct German spelling is Ü-B-E-R-L-Ä-U-F-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [ˈyːbɐˌlɔɪ̯fɐ] (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

Other uncommon German words near this rank

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