Vigil

[viˈɡiːl]

/[viˈɡiːl]/ noun

The verdict

“Vigil” is outside the top-ranked German vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency German
5
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Teil des Stundengebets, der in der Nacht oder am frühen Morgen gebetet wird

Key facts for Vigil
PropertyValue
HeadwordVigil
LanguageGerman
Part of speechNoun
IPA[viˈɡiːl]
Letters5
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “Vigil” sits in German frequency

Vigil falls outside the top-100,000 ranked German words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The German entry for Vigil is 5 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [viˈɡiːl]. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

No misspelling variants are generated for Vigil in our index, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

This headword's origin isn't recorded in our source data, leaving phoneme-to-grapheme mapping as the best guide to its spelling rather than a borrowing history. The correct German form is Vigil, spelled V-I-G-I-L.

Definition

  1. 1
    Teil des Stundengebets, der in der Nacht oder am frühen Morgen gebetet wird
  2. 2
    Nachtwache, oft vor großen Festen

Synonyms

MatutinNachtoffizium

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "Vigil"?
"Vigil" is spelled V-I-G-I-L. The IPA pronunciation is [viˈɡiːl].
What does "Vigil" mean?
As a noun, "Vigil" means: Teil des Stundengebets, der in der Nacht oder am frühen Morgen gebetet wird
How do you pronounce "Vigil"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "Vigil" is [viˈɡiːl]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "Vigil" come from?
"Vigil" 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 “Vigil”

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

  • The one correct German spelling is V-I-G-I-L - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [viˈɡiːl] (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