kafir

/ˈkæfə/

//ˈkæfə// noun

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

The verdict

“kafir” is an uncommon English word, ranked #68,353 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#68,353
frequency rank, English
5
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A disbeliever, a denier: someone who rejects or disbelieves in Allah or the tenets of Islam; or more broadly any non-Muslim.

Key facts for kafir
PropertyValue
Headwordkafir
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈkæfə/
Letters5
Frequency rank#68,353
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “kafir” 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). kafir 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 kafir is 5 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈkæfə/. Corpus data places it at rank #68,353 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. 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 kafir, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. Our dataset records no confusable match here, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Arabic كَافِر (kāfir, “denier, unbeliever”). Doublet of kaffir. The correct English form is kafir, spelled K-A-F-I-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    A disbeliever, a denier: someone who rejects or disbelieves in Allah or the tenets of Islam; or more broadly any non-Muslim.
  2. 2
    Ellipsis of kafir corn.

Etymology

Borrowed from Arabic كَافِر (kāfir, “denier, unbeliever”). Doublet of kaffir.

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); 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 "kafir"?
"kafir" is spelled K-A-F-I-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkæfə/.
What does "kafir" mean?
As a noun, "kafir" means: A disbeliever, a denier: someone who rejects or disbelieves in Allah or the tenets of Islam; or more broadly any non-Muslim.
How do you pronounce "kafir"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "kafir" is /ˈkæfə/. 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 "kafir"?
Borrowed from Arabic كَافِر (kāfir, “denier, unbeliever”). Doublet of kaffir. 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 “kafir”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is K-A-F-I-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈkæfə/ (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