opportune

/ɒ.pəˈt͡ʃ(j)uːn/

//ɒ.pəˈt͡ʃ(j)uːn// adj

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

The verdict

“opportune” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #39,939 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#39,939
frequency rank, English
9
letters
11
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Suitable for some particular purpose.

Key facts for opportune
PropertyValue
Headwordopportune
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ɒ.pəˈt͡ʃ(j)uːn/
Letters9
Frequency rank#39,939
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “opportune” 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). opportune 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 opportune is 9 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɒ.pəˈt͡ʃ(j)uːn/. Corpus data places it at rank #39,939 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 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for opportune, with forms such as "opoprtune", "oportune", and "opporrtune". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It is not paired with a close-neighbour confusable in our dataset, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Old French opportun, from Latin opportunus. The correct English form is opportune, spelled O-P-P-O-R-T-U-N-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Suitable for some particular purpose.
  2. 2
    At a convenient or advantageous time.

Etymology

From Old French opportun, from Latin opportunus.

Synonyms

Antonyms

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: opoprtune,oportune,opporrtune,opportnue,opporttune,opportuen,opportunne,opporutne,oppotrune,opprotune,poportune

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

opoprtune2oportune1opporrtune1opportnue2opporttune1opportuen2opportunne1opporutne2
Edit distance from "opportune"

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 "opportune"?
"opportune" is spelled O-P-P-O-R-T-U-N-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɒ.pəˈt͡ʃ(j)uːn/.
What does "opportune" mean?
As an adjective, "opportune" means: Suitable for some particular purpose.
What are common misspellings of "opportune"?
Common misspellings include "opoprtune", "oportune", "opporrtune", "opportnue", "opporttune". The correct spelling is "opportune".
How do you pronounce "opportune"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "opportune" is /ɒ.pəˈt͡ʃ(j)uːn/. 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 "opportune"?
From Old French opportun, from Latin opportunus. 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 “opportune”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is O-P-P-O-R-T-U-N-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɒ.pəˈt͡ʃ(j)uːn/ (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