metátesis

[meˈt̪at̪esis]

/[meˈt̪at̪esis]/ noun

The verdict

“metátesis” is uncommon Spanish (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency Spanish
9
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - Transposición de dos fonemas en el seno de una palabra o de un compuesto verbal, que en algunas lenguas se produce de forma regular por razones gramaticales y antiguamente en español se empleaba co...

Corpus desk

Index ES-metatesis · metátesis · Spanish

metátesis · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-LONG 9 letters
  • VOW-4 4 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "M" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for metátesis
PropertyValue
Headwordmetátesis
LanguageSpanish
Part of speechNoun
IPA[meˈt̪at̪esis]
Letters9
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Cola larga: rango de “metátesis” en español

metátesisestá más allá de las 100.000 formas más frecuentes del español, en la cola de léxico especializado o poco usado donde la duda ortográfica aprieta.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

metátesis is uncommon Spanish outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed [meˈt̪at̪esis]. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.

Zero misspellings are on record for metátesis in our index, a sign its spelling follows regular Spanish conventions. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

This entry's etymology isn't recorded, so its spelling pattern is best understood through pronunciation rather than a traceable origin. The correct Spanish form is metátesis, spelled M-E-T-Á-T-E-S-I-S.

Definition

  1. 1
    Transposición de dos fonemas en el seno de una palabra o de un compuesto verbal, que en algunas lenguas se produce de forma regular por razones gramaticales y antiguamente en español se empleaba como figura retórica. Es una de las formas regulares de transformación en la evolución de las lenguas.
  2. 2
    Reacción en la que dos estructuras intercambian una parte, en especial la producida en los alquenos.

Recorded use

Wiktionary example

These source excerpts show how metátesis appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Murciélago, además de contener las cinco vocales, presenta otra curiosidad como es la de metátesis, ese fenómeno que consiste en cambiar de lugar ciertas letras en una palabra.

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "metátesis"?
"metátesis" is spelled M-E-T-Á-T-E-S-I-S. The IPA pronunciation is [meˈt̪at̪esis].
What does "metátesis" mean?
As a noun, "metátesis" means: Transposición de dos fonemas en el seno de una palabra o de un compuesto verbal, que en algunas lenguas se produce de forma regular por razones gramaticales y antiguamente en español se empleaba co...
How do you pronounce "metátesis"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "metátesis" is [meˈt̪at̪esis]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "metátesis" come from?
"metátesis" 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.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list