lema

[ˈlema]

/[ˈlema]/ noun

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

The verdict

“lema” is a regularly-used Spanish word, ranked #6,195 in Spanish word frequency and used as a noun.

#6,195
frequency rank, Spanish
4
letters
5
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Frase o expresión distintiva que se emplea como guía para la conducta o latiguillo en la comunicación.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

lema vs les
50% similar
lema vs ley
50% similar
lema vs lpm
50% similar

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

Key facts for lema
PropertyValue
Headwordlema
LanguageSpanish
Part of speechNoun
IPA[ˈlema]
Letters4
Frequency rank#6,195
Misspellings tracked5
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “lema” 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). lema 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 lema is 4 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [ˈlema]. Corpus data places it at rank #6,195 in overall Spanish word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 8 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 5 likely wrong-spelling variants for lema, with forms such as "elma", "leam", and "lemma". 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 20 confusable-pair relationships, "les", "ley", "lpm", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Our source data has no etymology on file for this entry, so its spelling is best explained by sound-to-letter mapping rather than etymology. The correct Spanish form is lema, spelled L-E-M-A.

Definition

  1. 1
    Frase o expresión distintiva que se emplea como guía para la conducta o latiguillo en la comunicación.
  2. 2
    Leyenda que forma parte de un blasón.
  3. 3
    Asunto sobre el que versa un discurso, en particular la entrada (palabra o frase) de un diccionario.
  4. 4
    Texto breve que resume lo principal de una obra literaria al comienzo de la misma.
  5. 5
    Vocablo que se utiliza para titular artículos de diccionarios y otras obras de referencia.
  6. 6
    Nombre supuesto que se utiliza como contraseña al evaluar anónimamente un texto.
  7. 7
    Proposición ya demostrada o tomada por axioma en la prueba de un teorema.
  8. 8
    Con la ley de lemas, partido, coalición política o listas que se presentan a elecciones conjuntamente, aunque puede que con diferentes candidatos.

Synonyms

consignaesloganmantrainsigniadivisaseñamoteenunciadoargumentoreseñaencabezamientorótuloleyendaentradarúbrica

This word in other languages

motto(English)devise(Français)Motto(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: elma,leam,lemma,llema,lmea

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of lema - 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.

elma2leam2lemma1llema1lmea2
Edit distance from "lema"

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 "lema"?
"lema" is spelled L-E-M-A. The IPA pronunciation is [ˈlema].
What does "lema" mean?
As a noun, "lema" means: Frase o expresión distintiva que se emplea como guía para la conducta o latiguillo en la comunicación.
What words are commonly confused with "lema"?
"lema" is commonly confused with "les", "ley", "lpm". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "lema"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "lema" is [ˈlema]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "lema" come from?
"lema" is a Spanish word. PlainSpell's reference spans five languages -- English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German -- with definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data for each.
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 “lema”

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

  • The one correct Spanish spelling is L-E-M-A - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [ˈlema] (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “les” - see the side-by-side comparison. lema vs les
  • 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