prima facie

/ˈpri.ma ˈfa.ki.e/

//ˈpri.ma ˈfa.ki.e// phrase

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

The verdict

“prima facie” is outside the top-ranked Spanish vocabulary, used as a phrase - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency Spanish
11
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A primera vista, a simple vista.

Key facts for prima facie
PropertyValue
Headwordprima facie
LanguageSpanish
Part of speechPhrase
IPA/ˈpri.ma ˈfa.ki.e/
Letters11
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “prima facie” sits in Spanish frequency

prima facie falls outside the top-100,000 ranked Spanish words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

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

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The Spanish entry for prima facie is 11 letters long, classified as a phrase, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈpri.ma ˈfa.ki.e/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for prima facie, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

This headword's origin isn't recorded in our source data, so its spelling pattern is best understood through pronunciation rather than a traceable origin. The correct Spanish form is prima facie, spelled P-R-I-M-A- -F-A-C-I-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    A primera vista, a simple vista.
  2. 2
    Aparentemente, por lo que se ve.

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 "prima facie"?
"prima facie" is spelled P-R-I-M-A- -F-A-C-I-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpri.ma ˈfa.ki.e/.
What does "prima facie" mean?
As a phrase, "prima facie" means: A primera vista, a simple vista.
How do you pronounce "prima facie"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "prima facie" is /ˈpri.ma ˈfa.ki.e/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "prima facie" come from?
"prima facie" is a Spanish word. PlainSpell covers definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German.
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 “prima facie”

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

  • The one correct Spanish spelling is P-R-I-M-A- -F-A-C-I-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈpri.ma ˈfa.ki.e/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • 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