sullen
\ˈsʌ.lən\
The verdict
“sullen” 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) - Renfrogné.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | sullen |
| Language | French |
| Part of speech | Adjective |
| IPA | \ˈsʌ.lən\ |
| Letters | 6 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “sullen” sits in French frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The French entry for sullen is 6 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as \ˈsʌ.lən\. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
The misspelling generator found no plausible variants for sullen, suggesting the orthography follows predictable French patterns. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.
No borrowing history is documented for this entry, so its spelling pattern is best understood through pronunciation rather than a traceable origin. The correct French form is sullen, spelled S-U-L-L-E-N.
Definition
- 1Renfrogné.
- 2Obstiné, têtu.
- 3Maussade, morose.
- 4Morne.
- 5Lent.
Synonyms
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
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Using “sullen”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct French spelling is S-U-L-L-E-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as \ˈsʌ.lən\ (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.