uncanny

/ʌnˈkæni/

//ʌnˈkæni// adj

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

"uncanny" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“uncanny” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #18,981 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#18,981
frequency rank, English
7
letters
9
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Strange, and mysteriously unsettling (as if supernatural); weird.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

uncanny vs unfunny
71% similar

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

Key facts for uncanny
PropertyValue
Headworduncanny
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ʌnˈkæni/
Letters7
Frequency rank#18,981
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “uncanny” 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). uncanny 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 uncanny is 7 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ʌnˈkæni/. Corpus data places it at rank #18,981 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 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for uncanny, with forms such as "nucanny", "ucnanny", and "unacnny". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 1 confusable-pair relationship, "unfunny", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From un- + canny; thus “beyond one's ken,” or outside one's familiar knowledge or perceptions. Compare Middle English unkanne (“unknown”). In the noun sense a translation of Sigmund Freud's usage of German unheimlich (Das Unheimliche, 1919). The correct English form is uncanny, spelled U-N-C-A-N-N-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    Strange, and mysteriously unsettling (as if supernatural); weird.
  2. 2
    Careless.

Etymology

From un- + canny; thus “beyond one's ken,” or outside one's familiar knowledge or perceptions. Compare Middle English unkanne (“unknown”). In the noun sense a translation of Sigmund Freud's usage of German unheimlich (Das Unheimliche, 1919).

This word in other languages

inquietante(Español)déroutant(Français)unheimlich(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: nucanny,ucnanny,unacnny,uncannyy,uncany,uncanyn,unccanny,uncnany,unncanny

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

nucanny2ucnanny2unacnny2uncannyy1uncany1uncanyn2unccanny1uncnany2
Edit distance from "uncanny"

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 "uncanny"?
"uncanny" is spelled U-N-C-A-N-N-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ʌnˈkæni/.
What does "uncanny" mean?
As an adjective, "uncanny" means: Strange, and mysteriously unsettling (as if supernatural); weird.
What words are commonly confused with "uncanny"?
"uncanny" is commonly confused with "unfunny". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "uncanny"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "uncanny" is /ʌnˈkæni/. 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 "uncanny"?
From un- + canny; thus “beyond one's ken,” or outside one's familiar knowledge or perceptions. Compare Middle English unkanne (“unknown”). In the noun sense a translation of Sigmund Freud's usage of German unheimlich (Das Unheimliche, 1919). 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 “uncanny”

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

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