leitmotiv

\lajt.mɔ.tif\

/\lajt.mɔ.tif\/ noun

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

The verdict

“leitmotiv” has 13 generated spelling variants in the French index at frequency #33,755. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#33,755
frequency rank, French
128,088
“L” headwords
13
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Thème qui revient fréquemment dans une partition.

Key facts for leitmotiv
PropertyValue
Headwordleitmotiv
LanguageFrench
Part of speechNoun
IPA\lajt.mɔ.tif\
Letters9
Frequency rank#33,755
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “leitmotiv” 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). leitmotiv lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 13 spelling variants around leitmotiv (IPA \lajt.mɔ.tif\), anoun. Corpus frequency is #33,755 among 128,088 “L” headwords. Wiktionary lists 2 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for leitmotiv, with forms such as "elitmotiv", "leimtotiv", and "leitmmotiv". 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. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.

This entry carries no recorded etymology, leaving phoneme-to-grapheme mapping as the best guide to its spelling rather than a borrowing history. The correct French form is leitmotiv, spelled L-E-I-T-M-O-T-I-V.

Definition

  1. 1
    Thème qui revient fréquemment dans une partition.
  2. 2
    Phrase ou slogan qui revient régulièrement, d’une façon symbolique, dans un discours, un écrit.

This word in other languages

leitmotif(English)leitmotiv(Español)Leitmotiv(Deutsch)leitmotiv(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • elitmotiv
  • leimtotiv
  • leitmmotiv
  • leitmoitv
  • leitmotivv
  • leitmottiv
  • leitmotvi
  • leitmtoiv
  • leitomtiv
  • leittmotiv
  • letimotiv
  • lietmotiv
  • lleitmotiv

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

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

elitmotiv2leimtotiv2leitmmotiv1leitmoitv2leitmotivv1leitmottiv1leitmotvi2leitmtoiv2
Edit distance from "leitmotiv"

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 "leitmotiv"?
"leitmotiv" is spelled L-E-I-T-M-O-T-I-V. The IPA pronunciation is \lajt.mɔ.tif\.
What does "leitmotiv" mean?
As a noun, "leitmotiv" means: Thème qui revient fréquemment dans une partition.
What are common misspellings of "leitmotiv"?
Common misspellings include "elitmotiv", "leimtotiv", "leitmmotiv", "leitmoitv", "leitmotivv". The correct spelling is "leitmotiv".
How do you pronounce "leitmotiv"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "leitmotiv" is \lajt.mɔ.tif\. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "leitmotiv" come from?
"leitmotiv" 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 “leitmotiv”

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

  • The one correct French spelling is L-E-I-T-M-O-T-I-V - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as \lajt.mɔ.tif\ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more French words and confusable pairs in the same reference. French words

Same frequency band

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