Variation

[vaʁiaˈt͡si̯oːn]

/[vaʁiaˈt͡si̯oːn]/ noun

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

The verdict

“Variation” is a moderately-common German word, ranked #18,110 in German word frequency and used as a noun.

#18,110
frequency rank, German
9
letters
12
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - das Variieren; das Abwandeln oder auch das Verändern von etwas

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

Variation vs Variationen
82% similar

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

Key facts for Variation
PropertyValue
HeadwordVariation
LanguageGerman
Part of speechNoun
IPA[vaʁiaˈt͡si̯oːn]
Letters9
Frequency rank#18,110
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “Variation” 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). Variation 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 Variation is 9 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [vaʁiaˈt͡si̯oːn]. Corpus data places it at rank #18,110 in overall German word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for Variation, with forms such as "avriation", "vairation", and "varaition". 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 1 confusable-pair relationship, "Variationen", a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

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 Variation, spelled V-A-R-I-A-T-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    das Variieren; das Abwandeln oder auch das Verändern von etwas
  2. 2
    das Variierte; das Abgewandelte von etwas
  3. 3
    Abwandlung des musikalischen Themas
  4. 4
    ein Fachbegriff mit unterschiedlicher Bedeutung in den verschiedenen Teilgebieten

Synonyms

AbänderungAbwandlungÄnderungÜberarbeitungUmänderungUmarbeitungUmbildungUmformungUmgestaltungVeränderungModifikationModifizierungModulationAbwandlungNebenformSpielartVarianteModifikationAbartVarietätVarietät

This word in other languages

variation(English)variation(Français)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: avriation,vairation,varaition,variaiton,variatino,variationn,variatoin,variattion,varitaion,varriation,vraiation,vvariation

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

avriation2vairation2varaition2variaiton2variatino2variationn1variatoin2variattion1
Edit distance from "Variation"

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 "Variation"?
"Variation" is spelled V-A-R-I-A-T-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is [vaʁiaˈt͡si̯oːn].
What does "Variation" mean?
As a noun, "Variation" means: das Variieren; das Abwandeln oder auch das Verändern von etwas
What words are commonly confused with "Variation"?
"Variation" is commonly confused with "Variationen". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "Variation"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "Variation" is [vaʁiaˈt͡si̯oːn]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "Variation" come from?
"Variation" 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 “Variation”

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

  • The one correct German spelling is V-A-R-I-A-T-I-O-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [vaʁiaˈt͡si̯oːn] (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “Variationen” - see the side-by-side comparison. Variation vs Variationen
  • 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