leve

/ˈlɛ.vɨ/

//ˈlɛ.vɨ// adj

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

The verdict

“leve” is a regularly-used Portuguese word, ranked #1,245 in Portuguese word frequency and used as an adjective.

#1,245
frequency rank, Portuguese
4
letters
5
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - que tem pouco peso

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

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

leve vs lhe
50% similar
leve vs lie
50% similar
leve vs lew
50% similar

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

Key facts for leve
PropertyValue
Headwordleve
LanguagePortuguese
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈlɛ.vɨ/
Letters4
Frequency rank#1,245
Misspellings tracked5
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “leve” sits in Portuguese 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). leve 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 Portuguese entry for leve is 4 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈlɛ.vɨ/. Corpus data places it at rank #1,245 in overall Portuguese word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 13 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 5 likely wrong-spelling variants for leve, with forms such as "elve", "leev", and "levve". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "lhe", "lie", "lew", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

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 Portuguese form is leve, spelled L-E-V-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    que tem pouco peso
  2. 2
    que não é grave, que exerce pouca pressão
  3. 3
    ágil
  4. 4
    de pouca densidade
  5. 5
    de pouca espessura (diz-se de tecido)
  6. 6
    superficial
  7. 7
    fácil de suportar
  8. 8
    quase imperceptível
  9. 9
    fácil de compreender
  10. 10
    suave, delicado
  11. 11
    em que não há sensação de opressão; aliviado
  12. 12
    facilmente interrompido (diz-se do sono)
  13. 13
    de pouco teor alcoólico (diz-se de bebida)

This word in other languages

light(English)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: elve,leev,levve,lleve,lvee

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of leve - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

elve2leev2levve1lleve1lvee2
Edit distance from "leve"

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 Portuguese corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "leve"?
"leve" is spelled L-E-V-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈlɛ.vɨ/.
What does "leve" mean?
As an adjective, "leve" means: que tem pouco peso
What words are commonly confused with "leve"?
"leve" is commonly confused with "lhe", "lie", "lew". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "leve"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "leve" is /ˈlɛ.vɨ/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "leve" come from?
"leve" is a Portuguese 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 “leve”

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

  • The one correct Portuguese spelling is L-E-V-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈlɛ.vɨ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “lhe” - see the side-by-side comparison. leve vs lhe
  • Browse more Portuguese words and confusable pairs in the same reference. Portuguese 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