How Do You Spell WEREWOLF?

Pronunciation: [wˈe͡əwʊlf] (IPA)

The word "werewolf" is often misspelled due to its unusual pronunciation. The correct spelling can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcription: /ˈwɪərˌwʊlf/. The first syllable is pronounced as "weer" with a long "e" sound, followed by "wolf" with a short "u" sound. The "e" in the first syllable comes from the Old English word "wer" meaning man, as werewolves were originally believed to be men who turned into wolves. The spelling "warewolf" or "wairwolf" are common misspellings, but incorrect.

WEREWOLF Meaning and Definition

1. A werewolf is a mythical creature that is often depicted as a human with the ability to transform into a wolf or a wolf-like creature under the full moon. The concept of the werewolf has been prevalent in numerous cultures and folklore throughout history.

   Typically portrayed as a cursed or afflicted individual, the transformation into a werewolf is believed to occur against their will. Legends and tales suggest that this metamorphosis is often agonizing, accompanied by excruciating physical pain. During the transformation, the person's body undergoes a profound change as they grow fur, elongated snout, sharper teeth, and claws similar to a wolf's physical characteristics.

   The most common lore surrounding werewolves revolves around their insatiable hunger for human flesh, particularly during their transformed state. They are often associated with being unpredictable and uncontrollable, losing their human sense of reason and becoming driven solely by primal instincts.

   Throughout history, numerous remedies and methods have been theorized to protect against or eliminate werewolves. These include the use of silver, which is believed to be the only element capable of causing harm to these creatures, as well as rituals involving wolfsbane or other herbs associated with warding off evil spirits.

   While the concept of werewolves exists predominantly in mythology and folklore, their tales continue to captivate the imagination of various cultures and have made their way into literature, movies, and popular culture, where they are often portrayed as fierce and misunderstood beings.

Top Common Misspellings for WEREWOLF *

• warewolf 44.7368421%
• werewolve 18.4210526%
• wearwolf 10.5263157%
• warewolfs 7.8947368%
• wherewolf 5.2631578%
• werewolfs 2.6315789%

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for WEREWOLF

• wherewolfs
• wareworlf
• werewouilf
• werweolf
• wehrewolf
• werwoolf
• werewulf
• Weregeold
• Werwulf
• worawolf
• werewulff
• werewout

Etymology of WEREWOLF

The word "werewolf" comes from Old English "werewulf" or "werwulf", where "were" means "man" and "wulf" means "wolf". The term "wer" is related to "vir" in Latin and "man" in Old High German, while "wulf" is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "wulfaz". "Wulfaz" ultimately traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root "*wlkwo", meaning "wolf". Therefore, "werewolf" describes a person who transforms into a wolf or possesses wolf-like characteristics.

Plural form of WEREWOLF is WEREWOLVES