shotgun

\ˈʃɑt.ɡʌn\

/\ˈʃɑt.ɡʌn\/ noun

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

The verdict

“shotgun” is an uncommon French word, ranked #57,594 in French word frequency and used as a noun.

#57,594
frequency rank, French
7
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Fusil de chasse.

Key facts for shotgun
PropertyValue
Headwordshotgun
LanguageFrench
Part of speechNoun
IPA\ˈʃɑt.ɡʌn\
Letters7
Frequency rank#57,594
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “shotgun” 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). shotgun 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 shotgun is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as \ˈʃɑt.ɡʌn\. Corpus data places it at rank #57,594 in overall French 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.

shotgun doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, suggesting the orthography follows predictable French patterns. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Wiktionary doesn't record an etymology for this headword, so its spelling pattern is best understood through pronunciation rather than a traceable origin. The correct French form is shotgun, spelled S-H-O-T-G-U-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    Fusil de chasse.
  2. 2
    Siège passager avant, place du mort. En référence à la personne assise à côté du conducteur d'une diligence et portait le fusil.

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 "shotgun"?
"shotgun" is spelled S-H-O-T-G-U-N. The IPA pronunciation is \ˈʃɑt.ɡʌn\.
What does "shotgun" mean?
As a noun, "shotgun" means: Fusil de chasse.
How do you pronounce "shotgun"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "shotgun" is \ˈʃɑt.ɡʌn\. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "shotgun" come from?
"shotgun" 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 “shotgun”

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

  • The one correct French spelling is S-H-O-T-G-U-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as \ˈʃɑt.ɡʌn\ (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