vorkommen

[ˈfoːɐ̯ˌkɔmən]

/[ˈfoːɐ̯ˌkɔmən]/ verb

The verdict

“vorkommen” is a regularly-used German word, ranked #3,626 in German word frequency and used as a verb.

#3,626
frequency rank, German
9
letters
12
tracked misspellings
8
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - sich nach vorn bewegen

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

vorkommen vs vorkommt
78% similar
vorkommen vs Vorpommern
70% similar
vorkommen vs vorkommende
82% similar

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

Key facts for vorkommen
PropertyValue
Headwordvorkommen
LanguageGerman
Part of speechVerb
IPA[ˈfoːɐ̯ˌkɔmən]
Letters9
Frequency rank#3,626
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs8
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “vorkommen” 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). vorkommen 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 vorkommen is 9 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [ˈfoːɐ̯ˌkɔmən]. Corpus data places it at rank #3,626 in overall German word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. 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 vorkommen, with forms such as "ovrkommen", "vokrommen", and "vorkkommen". 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 8 confusable-pair relationships, "vorkommt", "Vorpommern", "vorkommende", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Wiktionary doesn't record an etymology for this headword, so its spelling is best explained by sound-to-letter mapping rather than etymology. The correct German form is vorkommen, spelled V-O-R-K-O-M-M-E-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    sich nach vorn bewegen
  2. 2
    existieren
  3. 3
    jemandem passieren oder geschehen
  4. 4
    auf jemanden in einer Weise wirken

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ovrkommen,vokrommen,vorkkommen,vorkmomen,vorkomemn,vorkomen,vorkommenn,vorkommne,vorokmmen,vorrkommen,vrokommen,vvorkommen

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of vorkommen - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ovrkommen2vokrommen2vorkkommen1vorkmomen2vorkomemn2vorkomen1vorkommenn1vorkommne2
Edit distance from "vorkommen"

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 "vorkommen"?
"vorkommen" is spelled V-O-R-K-O-M-M-E-N. The IPA pronunciation is [ˈfoːɐ̯ˌkɔmən].
What does "vorkommen" mean?
As a verb, "vorkommen" means: sich nach vorn bewegen
What words are commonly confused with "vorkommen"?
"vorkommen" is commonly confused with "vorkommt", "Vorpommern", "vorkommende". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "vorkommen"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "vorkommen" is [ˈfoːɐ̯ˌkɔmən]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "vorkommen" come from?
"vorkommen" 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 “vorkommen”

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

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