unknown

[ʌnˈnəʊn]

/[ʌnˈnəʊn]/ adj

The verdict

“unknown” has 11 generated spelling variants in the German index at frequency #43,561. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#43,561
frequency rank, German
30,279
“U” headwords
11
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - unbekannt

Key facts for unknown
PropertyValue
Headwordunknown
LanguageGerman
Part of speechAdjective
IPA[ʌnˈnəʊn]
Letters7
Frequency rank#43,561
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “unknown” 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). unknown 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 11 spelling variants around unknown (IPA [ʌnˈnəʊn]), anadjective. Corpus frequency is #43,561 among 30,279 “U” headwords. Dominant gloss: "unbekannt".

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for unknown, with forms such as "nuknown", "uknnown", and "unkknown". 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. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

This entry's etymology isn't recorded, so its spelling pattern is best understood through pronunciation rather than a traceable origin. The correct German form is unknown, spelled U-N-K-N-O-W-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    unbekannt

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • nuknown
  • uknnown
  • unkknown
  • unknnown
  • unknonw
  • unknownn
  • unknowwn
  • unknwon
  • unkonwn
  • unnknown
  • unnkown

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

nuknown2uknnown2unkknown1unknnown1unknonw2unknownn1unknowwn1unknwon2
Edit distance from "unknown"

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 "unknown"?
"unknown" is spelled U-N-K-N-O-W-N. The IPA pronunciation is [ʌnˈnəʊn].
What does "unknown" mean?
As an adjective, "unknown" means: unbekannt
What are common misspellings of "unknown"?
Common misspellings include "nuknown", "uknnown", "unkknown", "unknnown", "unknonw". The correct spelling is "unknown".
How do you pronounce "unknown"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "unknown" is [ʌnˈnəʊn]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "unknown" come from?
"unknown" is a German word. PlainSpell covers definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German.
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 “unknown”

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

  • The one correct German spelling is U-N-K-N-O-W-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [ʌnˈnəʊn] (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