Archillesferse

German

Etymology

In spite of the preceding back vowel, the ‹ch› is often pronounced /ç/ rather than /x/ by assimilation to the following stressed front vowel. Non-rhotic speakers may then reinterpret this as an underlying ‹r› in the word. Compare Arche, Archiv.

Noun

Archillesferse

Misspelling of Achillesferse.

Usage notes

The form is widely attestable in edited publications, books, and the even the most prestigious newspapers.