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 2,297 “L” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#90,658
frequency rank, English
2,297
“L” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A melodic theme associated with a particular character, place, thing or idea in an opera.

Corpus desk

Index EN-leitmotif · leitmotif · English

leitmotif · rank #90,658 · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-RARE #90,658
  • LEN-LONG 9 letters
  • VOW-4 4 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-MID 2,297
  • PHOTO-FINISH legitimation

Nearest frequency peer: legitimation (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Long-tail ranks near “leitmotif”

Sparse band: bars invert rank so rarer forms read shorter

corpus weight

What this shows Long-tail view: where “leitmotif” sits against similarly uncommon English ranks.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
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)

Long-tail rank of “leitmotif” in English

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).leitmotiffalls in this rarity band:

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

The axis is logarithmic, with each marked tick roughly ten times rarer than the last. Rare peers in the same band: “legitimation” (#90,657), “Lemaitre” (#90,659), “legionary” (#90,656). Among 2,297 “L” headwords, “leitmotif” is #90,658. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

leitmotif is uncommon English at frequency #90,658 among 2,297 “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.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how leitmotif appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. In Wagner's operas, especially his cycle of four operas known collectively as the Ring cycle, the leitmotif did not simply label or point to one particular character or object but rather conjured up a realm of ideas.
  2. People have pointed out the influence of Wagner’s music on my work. Certainly I do not disclaim this influence. In particular, I followed Wagner in the use of the leitmotif, which I carried over into the work of language.

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.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "leitmotif", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 9 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

legionary#90,656leavening#90,654Lewistown#90,663lithology#90,667

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list