worry

[ˈwʌri]

/[ˈwʌri]/ verb

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

The verdict

“worry” is an uncommon German word, ranked #69,910 in German word frequency and used as a verb.

#69,910
frequency rank, German
5
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - quälen, plagen, peinigen, heruntermachen

Key facts for worry
PropertyValue
Headwordworry
LanguageGerman
Part of speechVerb
IPA[ˈwʌri]
Letters5
Frequency rank#69,910
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “worry” 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). worry 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 worry is 5 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [ˈwʌri]. Corpus data places it at rank #69,910 in overall German word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

No misspelling variants are generated for worry in our index, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

No documented word history exists for this headword, so its spelling pattern is best understood through pronunciation rather than a traceable origin. The correct German form is worry, spelled W-O-R-R-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    quälen, plagen, peinigen, heruntermachen
  2. 2
    überarbeiten, abquälen
  3. 3
    sich Sorgen machen, besorgt sein

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 "worry"?
"worry" is spelled W-O-R-R-Y. The IPA pronunciation is [ˈwʌri].
What does "worry" mean?
As a verb, "worry" means: quälen, plagen, peinigen, heruntermachen
How do you pronounce "worry"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "worry" is [ˈwʌri]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "worry" come from?
"worry" 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 “worry”

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

  • The one correct German spelling is W-O-R-R-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [ˈwʌri] (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