rictus

[ˈrikt̪us]

/[ˈrikt̪us]/ noun

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

The verdict

“rictus” is an uncommon Spanish word, ranked #96,755 in Spanish word frequency and used as a noun.

#96,755
frequency rank, Spanish
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Expresión facial en la cual se levanta una esquina del labio superior, revelando algunos dientes. Puede expresar desprecio, o ser una risa forzada.

Key facts for rictus
PropertyValue
Headwordrictus
LanguageSpanish
Part of speechNoun
IPA[ˈrikt̪us]
Letters6
Frequency rank#96,755
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “rictus” 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). rictus 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 rictus is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [ˈrikt̪us]. Corpus data places it at rank #96,755 in overall Spanish 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 edit-distance generator produced no likely misspellings for rictus, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable Spanish rules. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Our source data has no etymology on file for this entry, so its spelling pattern is best understood through pronunciation rather than a traceable origin. The correct Spanish form is rictus, spelled R-I-C-T-U-S.

Definition

  1. 1
    Expresión facial en la cual se levanta una esquina del labio superior, revelando algunos dientes. Puede expresar desprecio, o ser una risa forzada.
  2. 2
    Gesto en la cara que expresa algún estado de ánimo.

Synonyms

muecamohíngesto

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 "rictus"?
"rictus" is spelled R-I-C-T-U-S. The IPA pronunciation is [ˈrikt̪us].
What does "rictus" mean?
As a noun, "rictus" means: Expresión facial en la cual se levanta una esquina del labio superior, revelando algunos dientes. Puede expresar desprecio, o ser una risa forzada.
How do you pronounce "rictus"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "rictus" is [ˈrikt̪us]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "rictus" come from?
"rictus" 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 “rictus”

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

  • The one correct Spanish spelling is R-I-C-T-U-S - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [ˈrikt̪us] (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