scharf

\ʃarf\

/\ʃarf\/ adj

The verdict

“scharf” is outside the top-ranked French vocabulary, used as an adjective - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency French
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Tranchant, coupant, acéré pour une lame.

Key facts for scharf
PropertyValue
Headwordscharf
LanguageFrench
Part of speechAdjective
IPA\ʃarf\
Letters6
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “scharf” sits in French frequency

scharf falls outside the top-100,000 ranked French 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 French entry for scharf is 6 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as \ʃarf\. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 12 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

scharf has no tracked misspelling variants, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

No explicit etymology string is stored for this entry, so its spelling is easiest explained by how it's pronounced rather than where it came from. The correct French form is scharf, spelled S-C-H-A-R-F.

Definition

  1. 1
    Tranchant, coupant, acéré pour une lame.
  2. 2
    Aigu, pointu, pour un accent.
  3. 3
    Sévère, strict, drastique, acerbe, pour un individu.
  4. 4
    Vif pour un arête, un angle.
  5. 5
    Épicé, piquant.
  6. 6
    Serré pour une courbe, un virage.
  7. 7
    Brusque, pour un freinage.
  8. 8
    Net, qui a un contour précis, qui n’est pas confus ou brouillé.
  9. 9
    Agressif, méchant.
  10. 10
    À balles réelles, amorcée
  11. 11
    Perçant, pénétrant, fin.
  12. 12
    Précis, rigoureux.

Synonyms

Antonyms

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 "scharf"?
"scharf" is spelled S-C-H-A-R-F. The IPA pronunciation is \ʃarf\.
What does "scharf" mean?
As an adjective, "scharf" means: Tranchant, coupant, acéré pour une lame.
How do you pronounce "scharf"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "scharf" is \ʃarf\. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "scharf" come from?
"scharf" 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 “scharf”

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

  • The one correct French spelling is S-C-H-A-R-F - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as \ʃarf\ (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
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