leitmotif

/ˈlaɪt.məʊˌtiːf/

//ˈlaɪt.məʊˌtiːf// noun

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

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

The verdict

“leitmotif” is uncommon English (frequency #90,658 among 16,425 “L” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#90,658
frequency rank, English
16,425
“L” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A melodic theme associated with a particular character, place, thing or idea in an opera.

Key facts for leitmotif
PropertyValue
Headwordleitmotif
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈlaɪt.məʊˌtiːf/
Letters9
Frequency rank#90,658
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “leitmotif” 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). leitmotif lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

leitmotif is uncommon English at frequency #90,658 among 16,425 “L” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈlaɪt.məʊˌtiːf/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for leitmotif, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From German Leitmotiv (“leading motif”), from leiten (“to lead”) + Motiv (“motif”), originally used to describe Wagnerian opera. The spelling was influenced by motif. The correct English form is leitmotif, spelled L-E-I-T-M-O-T-I-F.

Definition

  1. 1
    A melodic theme associated with a particular character, place, thing or idea in an opera.
  2. 2
    A recurring theme.

Etymology

From German Leitmotiv (“leading motif”), from leiten (“to lead”) + Motiv (“motif”), originally used to describe Wagnerian opera. The spelling was influenced by motif.

This word in other languages

leitmotif(Español)leitmotiv(Français)Leitmotiv(Deutsch)leitmotiv(Português)

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 "leitmotif"?
"leitmotif" is spelled L-E-I-T-M-O-T-I-F. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈlaɪt.məʊˌtiːf/.
What does "leitmotif" mean?
As a noun, "leitmotif" means: A melodic theme associated with a particular character, place, thing or idea in an opera.
How do you pronounce "leitmotif"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "leitmotif" is /ˈlaɪt.məʊˌtiːf/. 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 "leitmotif"?
From German Leitmotiv (“leading motif”), from leiten (“to lead”) + Motiv (“motif”), originally used to describe Wagnerian opera. The spelling was influenced by motif. 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 “leitmotif”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is L-E-I-T-M-O-T-I-F - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈlaɪt.məʊˌtiːf/ (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

Other uncommon English words near this rank

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