lukewarm

/ˌluːkˈwɔːm/

//ˌluːkˈwɔːm// adj

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

"lukewarm" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“lukewarm” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #25,827 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#25,827
frequency rank, English
8
letters
12
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Between warm and cool.

Key facts for lukewarm
PropertyValue
Headwordlukewarm
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˌluːkˈwɔːm/
Letters8
Frequency rank#25,827
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “lukewarm” 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). lukewarm 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 lukewarm is 8 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˌluːkˈwɔːm/. Corpus data places it at rank #25,827 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.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for lukewarm, with forms such as "lkuewarm", "llukewarm", and "luekwarm". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. 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 Middle English leukwarm, lukewarm (“lukewarm, tepid”), equivalent to luke (“lukewarm”) + warm. Compare Saterland Frisian luukwoarm (“lukewarm”), German Low German luukwarm (“lukewarm”), German lauwarm (“lukewarm”). First element believed to be an alter… The correct English form is lukewarm, spelled L-U-K-E-W-A-R-M.

Definition

  1. 1
    Between warm and cool.
  2. 2
    Unenthusiastic (about a proposal or an idea).

Etymology

From Middle English leukwarm, lukewarm (“lukewarm, tepid”), equivalent to luke (“lukewarm”) + warm. Compare Saterland Frisian luukwoarm (“lukewarm”), German Low German luukwarm (“lukewarm”), German lauwarm (“lukewarm”). First element believed to be an alteration of Middle English lew (“tepid”) (> English dialectal lew), from Old English hlēow (“warm, sunny”), from Proto-Germanic *hliwjaz, *hlēwaz, *hlūmaz, *hleumaz (“warm”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱal(w)e-, *ḱel(w)e-, *k(')lēw- (“warm, hot”). Cognate with Dutch lauw (“tepid”), German lau (“lukewarm”), Faroese lýggjur (“warm”), Swedish ljum (“lukewarm”), ljummen (“lukewarm”) and ly (“warm”), Danish lummer (“muggy”), Danish and Norwegian lunken (“tepid”), dialectal Swedish ljummen (“lukewarm”).

This word in other languages

tibio(Español)tiède(Français)lauwarm(Deutsch)morno(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: lkuewarm,llukewarm,luekwarm,lukeawrm,lukewamr,lukewarmm,lukewarrm,lukewram,lukewwarm,lukkewarm,lukwearm,ulkewarm

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of lukewarm - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

lkuewarm2llukewarm1luekwarm2lukeawrm2lukewamr2lukewarmm1lukewarrm1lukewram2
Edit distance from "lukewarm"

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 "lukewarm"?
"lukewarm" is spelled L-U-K-E-W-A-R-M. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌluːkˈwɔːm/.
What does "lukewarm" mean?
As an adjective, "lukewarm" means: Between warm and cool.
What are common misspellings of "lukewarm"?
Common misspellings include "lkuewarm", "llukewarm", "luekwarm", "lukeawrm", "lukewamr". The correct spelling is "lukewarm".
How do you pronounce "lukewarm"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "lukewarm" is /ˌluːkˈwɔːm/. 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 "lukewarm"?
From Middle English leukwarm, lukewarm (“lukewarm, tepid”), equivalent to luke (“lukewarm”) + warm. Compare Saterland Frisian luukwoarm (“lukewarm”), German Low German luukwarm (“lukewarm”), German lauwarm (“lukewarm”). First element believed to b... 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 “lukewarm”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is L-U-K-E-W-A-R-M - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˌluːkˈwɔːm/ (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