Which to use
“befähigen” is a verb and “Befähigung” is a noun - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #44,474
- “befähigen” frequency rank
- #35,656
- “Befähigung” frequency rank
- 80130
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | befähigen | Befähigung |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | jemanden in die Lage versetzen, etwas zu tun | das Befähigtsein, die Eignung für eine bestimmte Aufgabe |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set befähigen and Befähigung apart are highlighted. They share 8 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: befähigen is [bəˈfɛːɪɡn̩] while Befähigung is [bəˈfɛːɪɡʊŋ]. Spoken aloud the problem disappears. In writing it persists, because they differ by 1 letter(s) in length, and the parts of speech differ too (verb vs noun), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 80130, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
befähigen is recorded at frequency rank #44,474, classified as averb, pronounced [bəˈfɛːɪɡn̩]. Befähigung is at rank #35,656, tagged as anoun, pronounced [bəˈfɛːɪɡʊŋ].
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 80130, this pair ranks #201,860 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - among the most confusable pairs.
Orthographic DNA of befähigen vs Befähigung
Shared letters: befghinä. Private to "befähigen": -. Private to "Befähigung": u.
"befähigen" · 9 letters · shape CVCVCVCVC · "Befähigung" · 10 letters · shape CVCVCVCVCC
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "befähigen" and "Befähigung" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "befähigen" or "Befähigung"?
Remembering befähigen vs Befähigung
The fastest way to pick the right one every time.
- Check the role first: if you need a verb, it's “befähigen”; for a noun, it's “Befähigung”.
- See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “befähigen” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable