Lafayette

/ˌlæfiːˈɛt/

//ˌlæfiːˈɛt// name

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

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

The verdict

“Lafayette” has 11 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #14,579. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#14,579
frequency rank, English
16,425
“L” headwords
11
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette (1757–1834), a French aristocrat who is considered a national hero in both France and the United States for his participation in the French and American rev...

Key facts for Lafayette
PropertyValue
HeadwordLafayette
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechProper noun
IPA/ˌlæfiːˈɛt/
Letters9
Frequency rank#14,579
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “Lafayette” 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). Lafayette 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 Lafayette (IPA /ˌlæfiːˈɛt/), aproper noun. Corpus frequency is #14,579 among 16,425 “L” headwords. Wiktionary lists 17 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for Lafayette, with forms such as "alfayette", "laafyette", and "lafaeytte". 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 headword has no recorded confusable partner, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

Etymologically, the entry records: French surname from Occitan, "the little beech tree". The correct English form is Lafayette, spelled L-A-F-A-Y-E-T-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette (1757–1834), a French aristocrat who is considered a national hero in both France and the United States for his participation in the French and American revolutions.
  2. 2
    A number of places in the United States named for the Marquis de La Fayette:
  3. 3
    A number of places in the United States named for the Marquis de La Fayette:
  4. 4
    A number of places in the United States named for the Marquis de La Fayette:
  5. 5
    A number of places in the United States named for the Marquis de La Fayette:
  6. 6
    A number of places in the United States named for the Marquis de La Fayette:
  7. 7
    A number of places in the United States named for the Marquis de La Fayette:
  8. 8
    A number of places in the United States named for the Marquis de La Fayette:
  9. 9
    A number of places in the United States named for the Marquis de La Fayette:
  10. 10
    A number of places in the United States named for the Marquis de La Fayette:
  11. 11
    A number of places in the United States named for the Marquis de La Fayette:
  12. 12
    A number of places in the United States named for the Marquis de La Fayette:
  13. 13
    A number of places in the United States named for the Marquis de La Fayette:
  14. 14
    A number of places in the United States named for the Marquis de La Fayette:
  15. 15
    A number of places in the United States named for the Marquis de La Fayette:
  16. 16
    A surname from French.
  17. 17
    A male given name transferred from the surname, originally in honor of the Marquis.

Etymology

French surname from Occitan, "the little beech tree".

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • alfayette
  • laafyette
  • lafaeytte
  • lafayete
  • lafayetet
  • lafaytete
  • lafayyette
  • laffayette
  • lafyaette
  • lfaayette
  • llafayette

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of Lafayette - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

alfayette2laafyette2lafaeytte2lafayete1lafayetet2lafaytete2lafayyette1laffayette1
Edit distance from "Lafayette"

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 "Lafayette"?
"Lafayette" is spelled L-A-F-A-Y-E-T-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌlæfiːˈɛt/.
What does "Lafayette" mean?
As a proper noun, "Lafayette" means: Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette (1757–1834), a French aristocrat who is considered a national hero in both France and the United States for his participation in the French and American rev...
What are common misspellings of "Lafayette"?
Common misspellings include "alfayette", "laafyette", "lafaeytte", "lafayete", "lafayetet". The correct spelling is "Lafayette".
How do you pronounce "Lafayette"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "Lafayette" is /ˌlæfiːˈɛt/. 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 "Lafayette"?
French surname from Occitan, "the little beech tree". 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 “Lafayette”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is L-A-F-A-Y-E-T-T-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˌlæfiːˈɛt/ (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 FrequencyWords open word-frequency list