unbelievable

/ˌʌnbɪˈliːvəbl̩/

//ˌʌnbɪˈliːvəbl̩// adj

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

"unbelievable" is a 12-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“unbelievable” has 18 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #6,310. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#6,310
frequency rank, English
23,789
“U” headwords
18
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Not to be believed.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

unbelievable vs unbelievably
92% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for unbelievable
PropertyValue
Headwordunbelievable
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˌʌnbɪˈliːvəbl̩/
Letters12
Frequency rank#6,310
Misspellings tracked18
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “unbelievable” 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). unbelievable 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 18 spelling variants around unbelievable (IPA /ˌʌnbɪˈliːvəbl̩/), anadjective. Corpus frequency is #6,310 among 23,789 “U” headwords. Wiktionary lists 3 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 18 likely wrong-spelling variants for unbelievable, with forms such as "nubelievable", "ubnelievable", and "unbbelievable". 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 also participates in 1 confusable-pair relationship, "unbelievably", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From un- + believable. The correct English form is unbelievable, spelled U-N-B-E-L-I-E-V-A-B-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Not to be believed.
  2. 2
    Amazing, astonishing; so surprising that one is almost, or figuratively, unable to believe.
  3. 3
    Implausible or improbable.

Etymology

From un- + believable.

This word in other languages

increíble(Español)incroyable(Français)unglaublich(Deutsch)inacreditável(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • nubelievable
  • ubnelievable
  • unbbelievable
  • unbeilevable
  • unbeleivable
  • unbelieavble
  • unbelievabble
  • unbelievabel
  • unbelievablle
  • unbelievalbe
  • unbelievbale
  • unbelievible
  • unbelievvable
  • unbeliveable
  • unbellievable
  • unbleievable
  • uneblievable
  • unnbelievable

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

nubelievable2ubnelievable2unbbelievable1unbeilevable2unbeleivable2unbelieavble2unbelievabble1unbelievabel2
Edit distance from "unbelievable"

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 "unbelievable"?
"unbelievable" is spelled U-N-B-E-L-I-E-V-A-B-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌʌnbɪˈliːvəbl̩/.
What does "unbelievable" mean?
As an adjective, "unbelievable" means: Not to be believed.
What words are commonly confused with "unbelievable"?
"unbelievable" is commonly confused with "unbelievably". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "unbelievable"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "unbelievable" is /ˌʌnbɪˈliːvəbl̩/. 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 "unbelievable"?
From un- + believable. 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 “unbelievable”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is U-N-B-E-L-I-E-V-A-B-L-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˌʌnbɪˈliːvəbl̩/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “unbelievably” - see the side-by-side comparison. unbelievable vs unbelievably
  • 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