Zwiebel

[ˈt͡sviːbl̩]

/[ˈt͡sviːbl̩]/ noun

The verdict

“Zwiebel” is a moderately-common German word, ranked #16,615 in German word frequency and used as a noun.

#16,615
frequency rank, German
7
letters
10
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - ausdauernde krautige Pflanze mit röhrigen Laubblättern und kugelförmigen Scheindolden

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

Zwiebel vs Zwiebeln
88% similar
Zwiebel vs Ziegel
71% similar

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

Key facts for Zwiebel
PropertyValue
HeadwordZwiebel
LanguageGerman
Part of speechNoun
IPA[ˈt͡sviːbl̩]
Letters7
Frequency rank#16,615
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “Zwiebel” 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). Zwiebel 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 Zwiebel is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [ˈt͡sviːbl̩]. Corpus data places it at rank #16,615 in overall German word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for Zwiebel, with forms such as "wziebel", "ziwebel", and "zweibel". 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, "Zwiebeln", "Ziegel", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

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 Zwiebel, spelled Z-W-I-E-B-E-L.

Definition

  1. 1
    ausdauernde krautige Pflanze mit röhrigen Laubblättern und kugelförmigen Scheindolden
  2. 2
    Kulturpflanzenart der Gattung Lauch
  3. 3
    Tochterzwiebel als Überdauerungsorgan (als Kryptophyt) mit gestauchter Sprossachse und fleischig verdickten Niederblättern, die Reservestoffe speichern (bei Amaryllisgewächsen, Liliengewächsen)
  4. 4
    die Tochterzwiebeln von [1] (Kultursorten) in der Küche
  5. 5
    Taschenuhr

Synonyms

BolleSommerzwiebelZwiebellauchAllium cepaZwiebeluhr

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: wziebel,ziwebel,zweibel,zwibeel,zwiebbel,zwiebell,zwieble,zwieebl,zwwiebel,zzwiebel

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

wziebel2ziwebel2zweibel2zwibeel2zwiebbel1zwiebell1zwieble2zwieebl2
Edit distance from "Zwiebel"

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 "Zwiebel"?
"Zwiebel" is spelled Z-W-I-E-B-E-L. The IPA pronunciation is [ˈt͡sviːbl̩].
What does "Zwiebel" mean?
As a noun, "Zwiebel" means: ausdauernde krautige Pflanze mit röhrigen Laubblättern und kugelförmigen Scheindolden
What words are commonly confused with "Zwiebel"?
"Zwiebel" is commonly confused with "Zwiebeln", "Ziegel". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "Zwiebel"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "Zwiebel" is [ˈt͡sviːbl̩]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "Zwiebel" come from?
"Zwiebel" 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 “Zwiebel”

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

  • The one correct German spelling is Z-W-I-E-B-E-L - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [ˈt͡sviːbl̩] (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “Zwiebeln” - see the side-by-side comparison. Zwiebel vs Zwiebeln
  • 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