externo

[eksˈt̪eɾno]

/[eksˈt̪eɾno]/ adj

The verdict

“externo” is a regularly-used Spanish word, ranked #6,672 in Spanish word frequency and used as an adjective.

#6,672
frequency rank, Spanish
7
letters
10
tracked misspellings
15
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Que se encuentra o tiene lugar en el exterior

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

externo vs extraño
57% similar
externo vs externos
88% similar
externo vs entero
71% similar

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

Key facts for externo
PropertyValue
Headwordexterno
LanguageSpanish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA[eksˈt̪eɾno]
Letters7
Frequency rank#6,672
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs15
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “externo” sits in Spanish 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). externo 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 Spanish entry for externo is 7 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [eksˈt̪eɾno]. Corpus data places it at rank #6,672 in overall Spanish word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for externo, with forms such as "etxerno", "exetrno", and "extenro". 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 15 confusable-pair relationships, "extraño", "externos", "entero", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

No borrowing history is documented for this entry, so its spelling is easiest explained by how it's pronounced rather than where it came from. The correct Spanish form is externo, spelled E-X-T-E-R-N-O.

Definition

  1. 1
    Que se encuentra o tiene lugar en el exterior
  2. 2
    Se dice del alumno que no reside en el centro docente en el que estudia ni en sus dependencias.

Antonyms

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: etxerno,exetrno,extenro,externno,exteron,exterrno,extreno,extterno,exxterno,xeterno

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of externo - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

etxerno2exetrno2extenro2externno1exteron2exterrno1extreno2extterno1
Edit distance from "externo"

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 Spanish corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "externo"?
"externo" is spelled E-X-T-E-R-N-O. The IPA pronunciation is [eksˈt̪eɾno].
What does "externo" mean?
As an adjective, "externo" means: Que se encuentra o tiene lugar en el exterior
What words are commonly confused with "externo"?
"externo" is commonly confused with "extraño", "externos", "entero". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "externo"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "externo" is [eksˈt̪eɾno]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "externo" come from?
"externo" is a Spanish word. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data for this and other words across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German on PlainSpell.
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 “externo”

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

  • The one correct Spanish spelling is E-X-T-E-R-N-O - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [eksˈt̪eɾno] (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “extraño” - see the side-by-side comparison. externo vs extraño
  • Browse more Spanish words and confusable pairs in the same reference. Spanish 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