Vorstellung

[ˈfoːɐ̯ˌʃtɛlʊŋ]

/[ˈfoːɐ̯ˌʃtɛlʊŋ]/ noun

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

The verdict

“Vorstellung” is a regularly-used German word, ranked #1,999 in German word frequency and used as a noun.

#1,999
frequency rank, German
11
letters
16
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - die gedankliche, vergeistigte, innere Abbildung (Projektion) der (äußeren) Realität, Wirklichkeit, im inneren (Gedächtnis, Gefühl, Bewusstsein), die real erlebte Projektion der (äußeren) Realität/ ...

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

Vorstellung vs Vorstellungen
85% similar
Vorstellung vs vorstellen
73% similar

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

Key facts for Vorstellung
PropertyValue
HeadwordVorstellung
LanguageGerman
Part of speechNoun
IPA[ˈfoːɐ̯ˌʃtɛlʊŋ]
Letters11
Frequency rank#1,999
Misspellings tracked16
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “Vorstellung” 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). Vorstellung 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 Vorstellung is 11 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [ˈfoːɐ̯ˌʃtɛlʊŋ]. Corpus data places it at rank #1,999 in overall German word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 16 likely wrong-spelling variants for Vorstellung, with forms such as "ovrstellung", "vorrstellung", and "vorsetllung". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 2 confusable-pair relationships, "Vorstellungen", "vorstellen", a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

This entry carries no recorded etymology, so its spelling is best read as a straightforward mapping from sound to letter. The correct German form is Vorstellung, spelled V-O-R-S-T-E-L-L-U-N-G.

Definition

  1. 1
    die gedankliche, vergeistigte, innere Abbildung (Projektion) der (äußeren) Realität, Wirklichkeit, im inneren (Gedächtnis, Gefühl, Bewusstsein), die real erlebte Projektion der (äußeren) Realität/ Wirklichkeit; Abbild des Bewusstseins
  2. 2
    geistiges Abbild realer oder fiktiver Gegenstände
  3. 3
    Herausgeben grundlegender Informationen über die eigene Person
  4. 4
    das Vorstellen (Bekanntmachen, Darbietung) einer Person
  5. 5
    das Vorstellen (Bekanntmachen, Darstellen) eines Gegenstandes
  6. 6
    das, was während der Anwesenheit des Publikums im Theater, Kino, Zirkus oder Ähnlichem auf der Bühne, Straße, Leinwand oder in der Manege vor sich geht (oft aus mehreren Darbietungen zusammengesetzt)

This word in other languages

idea(English)idea(Español)imagination(Français)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ovrstellung,vorrstellung,vorsetllung,vorsstellung,vorstellnug,vorstellugn,vorstellungg,vorstellunng,vorstelulng,vorstelung,vorstlelung,vorsttellung,vortsellung,vosrtellung,vrostellung,vvorstellung

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

ovrstellung2vorrstellung1vorsetllung2vorsstellung1vorstellnug2vorstellugn2vorstellungg1vorstellunng1
Edit distance from "Vorstellung"

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 "Vorstellung"?
"Vorstellung" is spelled V-O-R-S-T-E-L-L-U-N-G. The IPA pronunciation is [ˈfoːɐ̯ˌʃtɛlʊŋ].
What does "Vorstellung" mean?
As a noun, "Vorstellung" means: die gedankliche, vergeistigte, innere Abbildung (Projektion) der (äußeren) Realität, Wirklichkeit, im inneren (Gedächtnis, Gefühl, Bewusstsein), die real erlebte Projektion der (äußeren) Realität/ ...
What words are commonly confused with "Vorstellung"?
"Vorstellung" is commonly confused with "Vorstellungen", "vorstellen". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "Vorstellung"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "Vorstellung" is [ˈfoːɐ̯ˌʃtɛlʊŋ]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "Vorstellung" come from?
"Vorstellung" 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 “Vorstellung”

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

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