altogether

/ɔːl.tʊˈɡɛð.ə(ɹ)/

//ɔːl.tʊˈɡɛð.ə(ɹ)// adv

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

"altogether" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“altogether” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #6,324 in English word frequency and used as an adverb.

#6,324
frequency rank, English
10
letters
15
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Completely, wholly, or without exception.

Key facts for altogether
PropertyValue
Headwordaltogether
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdverb
IPA/ɔːl.tʊˈɡɛð.ə(ɹ)/
Letters10
Frequency rank#6,324
Misspellings tracked15
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “altogether” sits in English 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). altogether 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 English entry for altogether is 10 letters long, classified as an adverb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɔːl.tʊˈɡɛð.ə(ɹ)/. Corpus data places it at rank #6,324 in overall English 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 15 likely wrong-spelling variants for altogether, with forms such as "alltogether", "alotgether", and "altgoether". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English altogeder, altogedere, equivalent to al- (“all”) + together. Cognate with Scots awthegither (“altogether”), Middle High German alzegater (“altogether”), Dutch altegaar. Compare also Old English ealġeador, eallġeador (“altogether”), West … The correct English form is altogether, spelled A-L-T-O-G-E-T-H-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    Completely, wholly, or without exception.
  2. 2
    On the whole; with everything considered.
  3. 3
    With everything included.
  4. 4
    An intensifier: without doubt, clearly.

Etymology

From Middle English altogeder, altogedere, equivalent to al- (“all”) + together. Cognate with Scots awthegither (“altogether”), Middle High German alzegater (“altogether”), Dutch altegaar. Compare also Old English ealġeador, eallġeador (“altogether”), West Frisian allegearre (“altogether”). More at together. The noun sense (nakedness): was popularized in George du Maurier's 1894 novel Trilby.

This word in other languages

totalmente(Español)complètement(Français)ganz und gar(Deutsch)completamente(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: alltogether,alotgether,altgoether,altoegther,altogehter,altogetehr,altogetherr,altogethher,altogethre,altogetther,altoggether,altogteher,alttogether,atlogether,latogether

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of altogether - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

alltogether1alotgether2altgoether2altoegther2altogehter2altogetehr2altogetherr1altogethher1
Edit distance from "altogether"

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 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "altogether"?
"altogether" is spelled A-L-T-O-G-E-T-H-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ɔːl.tʊˈɡɛð.ə(ɹ)/.
What does "altogether" mean?
As an adverb, "altogether" means: Completely, wholly, or without exception.
What are common misspellings of "altogether"?
Common misspellings include "alltogether", "alotgether", "altgoether", "altoegther", "altogehter". The correct spelling is "altogether".
How do you pronounce "altogether"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "altogether" is /ɔːl.tʊˈɡɛð.ə(ɹ)/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "altogether"?
From Middle English altogeder, altogedere, equivalent to al- (“all”) + together. Cognate with Scots awthegither (“altogether”), Middle High German alzegater (“altogether”), Dutch altegaar. Compare also Old English ealġeador, eallġeador (“altogethe... See the full etymology section above for more details.
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 “altogether”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is A-L-T-O-G-E-T-H-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɔːl.tʊˈɡɛð.ə(ɹ)/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English 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