compter

\kɔ̃.te\

/\kɔ̃.te\/ verb

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

The verdict

“compter” is a regularly-used French word, ranked #1,323 in French word frequency and used as a verb.

#1,323
frequency rank, French
7
letters
11
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Déterminer (une quantité, un nombre), plus particulièrement par un dénombrement, sinon par un calcul.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

compter vs comte
71% similar
compter vs coter
71% similar
compter vs couper
71% similar

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

Key facts for compter
PropertyValue
Headwordcompter
LanguageFrench
Part of speechVerb
IPA\kɔ̃.te\
Letters7
Frequency rank#1,323
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “compter” sits in French 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). compter 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 French entry for compter is 7 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as \kɔ̃.te\. Corpus data places it at rank #1,323 in overall French word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 16 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for compter, with forms such as "ccompter", "cmopter", and "commpter". 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 20 confusable-pair relationships, "comte", "coter", "couper", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

This entry carries no recorded etymology, so its spelling pattern is best understood through pronunciation rather than a traceable origin. The correct French form is compter, spelled C-O-M-P-T-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    Déterminer (une quantité, un nombre), plus particulièrement par un dénombrement, sinon par un calcul.
  2. 2
    Calculer.
  3. 3
    Énoncer successivement les nombres entiers naturels.
  4. 4
    Lésiner.
  5. 5
    Trouver trop grande une quantité.
  6. 6
    Payer une somme à quelqu’un.
  7. 7
    Tenir compte d’une chose à quelqu’un.
  8. 8
    Marquer, signaler.
  9. 9
    Ranger une personne, une chose parmi d’autres.
  10. 10
    Comprendre dans un compte, dans une énumération.
  11. 11
    Comprendre.
  12. 12
    Être compté.
  13. 13
    Régler, solder le compte qu’on a avec quelqu’un.
  14. 14
    Tenir compte à quelqu’un ou quelque chose, de ce qu’il veut, de ce qu’il peut, de ce qu’on lui doit.
  15. 15
    Se proposer ; croire ; projeter.
  16. 16
    Avoir de l'importance.

This word in other languages

calculate(English)contar(Español)erachten(Deutsch)calcular(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ccompter,cmopter,commpter,competr,comppter,compterr,comptre,comptter,comtper,copmter,ocmpter

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of compter - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ccompter1cmopter2commpter1competr2comppter1compterr1comptre2comptter1
Edit distance from "compter"

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "compter"?
"compter" is spelled C-O-M-P-T-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is \kɔ̃.te\.
What does "compter" mean?
As a verb, "compter" means: Déterminer (une quantité, un nombre), plus particulièrement par un dénombrement, sinon par un calcul.
What words are commonly confused with "compter"?
"compter" is commonly confused with "comte", "coter", "couper". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "compter"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "compter" is \kɔ̃.te\. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "compter" come from?
"compter" is a French 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 “compter”

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

  • The one correct French spelling is C-O-M-P-T-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as \kɔ̃.te\ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “comte” - see the side-by-side comparison. compter vs comte
  • Browse more French words and confusable pairs in the same reference. French 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