anatman

Name: anatman, English Word Data
Creator: Wiktionary
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

/ˈɑn ˈɑːtman/

//ˈɑn ˈɑːtman// noun

By PlainSpell Editorial Team · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) · analyzed May 6, 2026

The verdict

“anatman” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English: 7
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The doctrine that there is no transcendental ego or soul and the perceived true self is an illusion. It corresponds to the Hinayana or Theravada Buddhist doctrine of anatta.

Key facts for anatman
Property	Value
Headword	anatman
Language	English
Part of speech	Noun
IPA	/ˈɑn ˈɑːtman/
Letters	7
Misspellings tracked	0
Confusable pairs	0
Source	Wiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “anatman” sits in English frequency

anatman falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for anatman is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɑn ˈɑːtman/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for anatman, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. Our dataset records no confusable match here, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From an- + atman. The correct English form is anatman, spelled A-N-A-T-M-A-N.

Definition

1
The doctrine that there is no transcendental ego or soul and the perceived true self is an illusion. It corresponds to the Hinayana or Theravada Buddhist doctrine of anatta.
2
That which is other than the atman (self), such as the body.

Etymology

From an- + atman.

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "anatman"?

"anatman" is spelled A-N-A-T-M-A-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɑn ˈɑːtman/.

What does "anatman" mean?

As a noun, "anatman" means: The doctrine that there is no transcendental ego or soul and the perceived true self is an illusion. It corresponds to the Hinayana or Theravada Buddhist doctrine of anatta.

How do you pronounce "anatman"?

The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "anatman" is /ˈɑn ˈɑːtman/. 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 "anatman"?

From an- + atman. 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 “anatman”

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

The one correct English spelling is A-N-A-T-M-A-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
Say it as /ˈɑn ˈɑːtman/ (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.