chauffeur

/ʃɒˈfɜː/

//ʃɒˈfɜː// noun

"chauffeur" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“chauffeur” has 11 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #23,201. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#23,201
frequency rank, English
43,570
“C” headwords
11
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A person employed to drive a private motor car or a hired car of executive or luxury class (like a limousine).

Key facts for chauffeur
PropertyValue
Headwordchauffeur
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ʃɒˈfɜː/
Letters9
Frequency rank#23,201
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “chauffeur” 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). chauffeur lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 11 spelling variants around chauffeur (IPA /ʃɒˈfɜː/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #23,201 among 43,570 “C” headwords. Wiktionary lists 2 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for chauffeur, with forms such as "cahuffeur", "cchauffeur", and "chafufeur". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from French chauffeur. The correct English form is chauffeur, spelled C-H-A-U-F-F-E-U-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    A person employed to drive a private motor car or a hired car of executive or luxury class (like a limousine).
  2. 2
    The driver of a fire truck.

Etymology

Borrowed from French chauffeur.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • cahuffeur
  • cchauffeur
  • chafufeur
  • chaufefur
  • chaufeur
  • chaufferu
  • chauffeurr
  • chauffuer
  • chhauffeur
  • chuaffeur
  • hcauffeur

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

cahuffeur2cchauffeur1chafufeur2chaufefur2chaufeur1chaufferu2chauffeurr1chauffuer2
Edit distance from "chauffeur"

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 "chauffeur"?
"chauffeur" is spelled C-H-A-U-F-F-E-U-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ʃɒˈfɜː/.
What does "chauffeur" mean?
As a noun, "chauffeur" means: A person employed to drive a private motor car or a hired car of executive or luxury class (like a limousine).
What are common misspellings of "chauffeur"?
Common misspellings include "cahuffeur", "cchauffeur", "chafufeur", "chaufefur", "chaufeur". The correct spelling is "chauffeur".
How do you pronounce "chauffeur"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "chauffeur" is /ʃɒˈfɜː/. 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 "chauffeur"?
Borrowed from French chauffeur. 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 “chauffeur”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is C-H-A-U-F-F-E-U-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ʃɒˈfɜː/ (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

Same frequency band

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