karma

/kərm(ə)/

//kərm(ə)// noun

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

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

The verdict

“karma” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #8,563 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#8,563
frequency rank, English
5
letters
7
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The sum total of a person's actions, which determine the person's next incarnation in samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

karma vs kart
60% similar
karma vs Kira
40% similar
karma vs kaya
60% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for karma
PropertyValue
Headwordkarma
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/kərm(ə)/
Letters5
Frequency rank#8,563
Misspellings tracked7
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “karma” 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). karma 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 karma is 5 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /kərm(ə)/. Corpus data places it at rank #8,563 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 7 likely wrong-spelling variants for karma, with forms such as "akrma", "kamra", and "karam". 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. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "kart", "Kira", "kaya", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Sanskrit कर्म (kárma), nom.sg. of कर्मन् (kárman, “act, action, performance”); first attested in English in 1785 in a translation of the Bhagavad Gita by Charles Wilkins. The correct English form is karma, spelled K-A-R-M-A.

Definition

  1. 1
    The sum total of a person's actions, which determine the person's next incarnation in samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth.
  2. 2
    A force or law of nature which causes one to reap what one sows; destiny; fate.
  3. 3
    A distinctive feeling, aura, or atmosphere.
  4. 4
    A score assigned to a user or post on some discussion forums, indicating popularity or perceived value.

Etymology

Borrowed from Sanskrit कर्म (kárma), nom.sg. of कर्मन् (kárman, “act, action, performance”); first attested in English in 1785 in a translation of the Bhagavad Gita by Charles Wilkins.

This word in other languages

karma(Español)karma(Français)Karma(Deutsch)carma(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: akrma,kamra,karam,karmma,karrma,kkarma,krama

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of karma - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

akrma2kamra2karam2karmma1karrma1kkarma1krama2
Edit distance from "karma"

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 "karma"?
"karma" is spelled K-A-R-M-A. The IPA pronunciation is /kərm(ə)/.
What does "karma" mean?
As a noun, "karma" means: The sum total of a person's actions, which determine the person's next incarnation in samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth.
What words are commonly confused with "karma"?
"karma" is commonly confused with "kart", "Kira", "kaya". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "karma"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "karma" is /kərm(ə)/. 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 "karma"?
Borrowed from Sanskrit कर्म (kárma), nom.sg. of कर्मन् (kárman, “act, action, performance”); first attested in English in 1785 in a translation of the Bhagavad Gita by Charles Wilkins. 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 “karma”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is K-A-R-M-A - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /kərm(ə)/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “kart” - see the side-by-side comparison. karma vs kart
  • 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