Which to use
“ähnlich” and “amtlich” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #1,049
- “ähnlich” frequency rank
- #16,900
- “amtlich” frequency rank
- 17949
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | ähnlich | amtlich |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | in manchem übereinstimmend, teilweise analog | sich auf ein Amt, einen Amtsvorgang beziehend |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set ähnlich and amtlich apart are highlighted. They share 4 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. ähnlich ([ˈɛːnlɪç]) and amtlich ([ˈamtlɪç]) are said differently, so reading them aloud is the quickest way to catch the wrong one. On the page they stay close: they share most of their letters but differ in 3 positions. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 17949, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
ähnlich is recorded at frequency rank #1,049, classified as anadj, pronounced [ˈɛːnlɪç]. amtlich is at rank #16,900, tagged as anadj, pronounced [ˈamtlɪç].
Glosses for this pair are partially populated in our dataset, but the full side-by-side definitions above should still guide you to the right choice.
With a confusion score of 17949, this pair ranks #1,922,793 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of ähnlich vs amtlich
Shared letters: chil. Private to "ähnlich": nä. Private to "amtlich": amt.
"ähnlich" · 7 letters · shape VCCCVCC · "amtlich" · 7 letters · shape VCCCVCC
Known mistypes of this pair
- amtlich ← amltich · ammtlich · amtilch · amtlcih · amtlicch · amtlichh · amtlihc · amtllich
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "ähnlich" and "amtlich" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "ähnlich" or "amtlich"?
Remembering ähnlich vs amtlich
The fastest way to pick the right one every time.
- Read both glosses above and match the meaning you intend, only context separates this pair.
- See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “ähnlich” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable