Freudian slip

/ˌfɹɔɪdɪ.ən ˈslɪp/

//ˌfɹɔɪdɪ.ən ˈslɪp// noun

"freudian-slip" is a 12-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“Freudian slip” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
13
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A mistake in speech or action in which a person supposedly shows their true subconscious desires.

Key facts for Freudian slip
PropertyValue
HeadwordFreudian slip
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˌfɹɔɪdɪ.ən ˈslɪp/
Letters13
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “Freudian slip” sits in English frequency

Freudian slip 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.

Rare enough to double-check

Freudian slip is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˌfɹɔɪdɪ.ən ˈslɪp/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. Gloss: "A mistake in speech or action in which a person supposedly shows their true subconscious desires.".

Zero misspellings are on record for Freudian slip in our index, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: Named after Austrian psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud (1856–1939). The correct English form is Freudian slip, spelled F-R-E-U-D-I-A-N- -S-L-I-P.

Definition

  1. 1
    A mistake in speech or action in which a person supposedly shows their true subconscious desires.

Etymology

Named after Austrian psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud (1856–1939).

This word in other languages

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 "Freudian slip"?
"Freudian slip" is spelled F-R-E-U-D-I-A-N- -S-L-I-P. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌfɹɔɪdɪ.ən ˈslɪp/.
What does "Freudian slip" mean?
As a noun, "Freudian slip" means: A mistake in speech or action in which a person supposedly shows their true subconscious desires.
How do you pronounce "Freudian slip"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "Freudian slip" is /ˌfɹɔɪdɪ.ən ˈslɪp/. 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 "Freudian slip"?
Named after Austrian psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud (1856–1939). 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 “Freudian slip”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is F-R-E-U-D-I-A-N- -S-L-I-P - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˌfɹɔɪdɪ.ən ˈslɪp/ (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