inter-

/ɪntə(r)/

//ɪntə(r)// prefix

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

"inter" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

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

Unranked
below top-frequency English
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A position which is in between two (or more) of the kind indicated by the root.

Key facts for inter-
PropertyValue
Headwordinter-
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechPrefix
IPA/ɪntə(r)/
Letters6
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “inter-” sits in English frequency

inter- 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 inter- is 6 letters long, classified as a prefix, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɪntə(r)/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 33 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our edit-distance generator produced no likely misspellings for inter-, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. It is not paired with a close-neighbour confusable in our dataset, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: Etymology tree ▲ Proto-Indo-European *h₁en- Proto-Indo-European *h₁en- Proto-Indo-European *h₁én Proto-Indo-European *h₁entér Proto-Italic *ənter Latin inter Latin inter-bor. English inter- Borrowed from Latin inter- (“between, amid”), a form of preposition… The correct English form is inter-, spelled I-N-T-E-R--.

Definition

  1. 1
    A position which is in between two (or more) of the kind indicated by the root.
  2. 2
    A position which is in between two (or more) of the kind indicated by the root.
  3. 3
    A position which is in between two (or more) of the kind indicated by the root.
  4. 4
    A position which is in between two (or more) of the kind indicated by the root.
  5. 5
    A position which is in between two (or more) of the kind indicated by the root.
  6. 6
    A position which is in between two (or more) of the kind indicated by the root.
  7. 7
    A position which is in between two (or more) of the kind indicated by the root.
  8. 8
    Mutually: the root verb or property has a symmetric and bidirectional relationship between the relevant parties.
  9. 9
    Combining together: the root verb is done together, generally uniting or merging multiple objects.
  10. 10
    Hybrid: combining two or more of the root together to produce a hybrid.
  11. 11
    Internally: the root verb is done in between or among relevant entities; also forming nouns and adjectives derived from the verb form.
  12. 12
    Internally: the root verb is done in between or among relevant entities; also forming nouns and adjectives derived from the verb form.
  13. 13
    Internally: the root verb is done in between or among relevant entities; also forming nouns and adjectives derived from the verb form.
  14. 14
    Internally: the root verb is done in between or among relevant entities; also forming nouns and adjectives derived from the verb form.
  15. 15
    Internally: the root verb is done in between or among relevant entities; also forming nouns and adjectives derived from the verb form.
  16. 16
    Alternating: a sequence of alternating kinds of the root.
  17. 17
    Link: to connect multiple kinds of the root.
  18. 18
    Link: to connect multiple kinds of the root.
  19. 19
    Link: to connect multiple kinds of the root.
  20. 20
    Link: to connect multiple kinds of the root.
  21. 21
    Involving multiple of the root.
  22. 22
    Involving multiple of the root.
  23. 23
    Involving multiple of the root.
  24. 24
    Involving multiple of the root.
  25. 25
    Intermediate between multiple of the type indicated by the root.
  26. 26
    Intermediate between multiple of the type indicated by the root.
  27. 27
    Intermediate between multiple of the type indicated by the root.
  28. 28
    Intermediate between multiple of the type indicated by the root.
  29. 29
    Intermediate between multiple of the type indicated by the root.
  30. 30
    Intermediate between multiple of the type indicated by the root.
  31. 31
    Intermediate between multiple of the type indicated by the root.
  32. 32
    Internet: relating to the internet or computer networking.
  33. 33
    Intersex: relating to intersex people.

Etymology

Etymology tree ▲ Proto-Indo-European *h₁en- Proto-Indo-European *h₁en- Proto-Indo-European *h₁én Proto-Indo-European *h₁entér Proto-Italic *ənter Latin inter Latin inter-bor. English inter- Borrowed from Latin inter- (“between, amid”), a form of prepositional inter (“between”).

Synonyms

mid-dia-intra-co-con-com-col-cor-syn-syl-sym-cross-

Antonyms

extra-

This word in other languages

inter-(Español)entre-(Français)inter-(Deutsch)entre-(Português)

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 "inter-"?
"inter-" is spelled I-N-T-E-R--. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪntə(r)/.
What does "inter-" mean?
As a prefix, "inter-" means: A position which is in between two (or more) of the kind indicated by the root.
How do you pronounce "inter-"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "inter-" is /ɪntə(r)/. 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 "inter-"?
Etymology tree ▲ Proto-Indo-European *h₁en- Proto-Indo-European *h₁en- Proto-Indo-European *h₁én Proto-Indo-European *h₁entér Proto-Italic *ənter Latin inter Latin inter-bor. English inter- Borrowed from Latin inter- (“between, amid”), a form of p... 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 “inter-”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is I-N-T-E-R-- - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɪntə(r)/ (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