fondation

\fɔ̃.da.sjɔ̃\

/\fɔ̃.da.sjɔ̃\/ noun

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

The verdict

“fondation” is a regularly-used French word, ranked #2,576 in French word frequency and used as a noun.

#2,576
frequency rank, French
9
letters
13
tracked misspellings
5
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Action de fonder, de bâtir la base de quelque chose ; commencement de quelque chose de durable.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

fondation vs formation
78% similar
fondation vs fondations
90% similar
fondation vs foundation
90% similar

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

Key facts for fondation
PropertyValue
Headwordfondation
LanguageFrench
Part of speechNoun
IPA\fɔ̃.da.sjɔ̃\
Letters9
Frequency rank#2,576
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs5
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “fondation” 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). fondation 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 fondation is 9 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as \fɔ̃.da.sjɔ̃\. Corpus data places it at rank #2,576 in overall French word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for fondation, with forms such as "ffondation", "fnodation", and "fodnation". 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 5 confusable-pair relationships, "formation", "fondations", "foundation", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Our source data has no etymology on file for this entry, so its spelling is best read as a straightforward mapping from sound to letter. The correct French form is fondation, spelled F-O-N-D-A-T-I-O-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    Action de fonder, de bâtir la base de quelque chose ; commencement de quelque chose de durable.
  2. 2
    Travail que l’on fait pour asseoir les fondements d’un édifice, d’une construction.
  3. 3
    Fondement, base d'une construction.
  4. 4
    Fossé, tranchée que l’on fait pour y placer les fondements.
  5. 5
    Masse de biens affectée pour réaliser une œuvre d’intérêt général à but non lucratif (de piété, caritatif, artistique, etc.)
  6. 6
    Base, fondement, usage traditionnel, une règle qui perdure.

This word in other languages

foundation(English)fundación(Español)Einrichtung(Deutsch)instituição(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ffondation,fnodation,fodnation,fonadtion,fondaiton,fondatino,fondationn,fondatoin,fondattion,fonddation,fondtaion,fonndation,ofndation

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

ffondation1fnodation2fodnation2fonadtion2fondaiton2fondatino2fondationn1fondatoin2
Edit distance from "fondation"

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 "fondation"?
"fondation" is spelled F-O-N-D-A-T-I-O-N. The IPA pronunciation is \fɔ̃.da.sjɔ̃\.
What does "fondation" mean?
As a noun, "fondation" means: Action de fonder, de bâtir la base de quelque chose ; commencement de quelque chose de durable.
What words are commonly confused with "fondation"?
"fondation" is commonly confused with "formation", "fondations", "foundation". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "fondation"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "fondation" is \fɔ̃.da.sjɔ̃\. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "fondation" come from?
"fondation" is a French 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 “fondation”

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

  • The one correct French spelling is F-O-N-D-A-T-I-O-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as \fɔ̃.da.sjɔ̃\ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “formation” - see the side-by-side comparison. fondation vs formation
  • 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