welkomen

Welkommen is generally considered a misspelling of the German word Willkommen, which translates to "welcome" in English. The standard German spelling is Willkommen, with a capital W and two l’s.

Etymology and meaning: Willkommen is a compound formed from Wille (will or desire) and kommen (to come). The sense is that someone’s coming is desired or accepted, giving rise to the present-day greeting or sign of hospitality. The form has been used in German for centuries and appears on doors, signs, and in phrases such as Herzlichen willkommen.

Usage and forms: In German, Willkommen can function as a noun or as an interjective greeting. Common usages include "Willkommen!" as a standalone greeting or "Herzlich willkommen in..." to welcome someone to a place or event. In written text, the correct spelling should always be used. Welkommen is usually seen as a typographical error, a nonstandard variant, or a stylized choice in branding or art rather than standard German.

Cross-linguistic note: In Dutch, the word for "welcome" is welkom (one l), and this is unrelated to the German Willkommen. The similarity of the forms in some contexts can contribute to confusion, but Welkommen remains nonstandard in German and other languages.

See also: Willkommen, Welcome, Greeting.