Which to use
“Befähigung” and “Betätigung” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #35,656
- “Befähigung” frequency rank
- #17,832
- “Betätigung” frequency rank
- 53488
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Befähigung | Betätigung |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | das Befähigtsein, die Eignung für eine bestimmte Aufgabe | Beschäftigung/Befassung mit einer bestimmten Aufgabe |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set Befähigung and Betätigung apart are highlighted. They share 8 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. Befähigung ([bəˈfɛːɪɡʊŋ]) and Betätigung ([bəˈtɛːtɪɡʊŋ]) 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 2 positions. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 53488, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
Befähigung is recorded at frequency rank #35,656, classified as anoun, pronounced [bəˈfɛːɪɡʊŋ]. Betätigung is at rank #17,832, tagged as anoun, pronounced [bəˈtɛːtɪɡʊŋ].
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 53488, this pair ranks #1,056,055 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of Befähigung vs Betätigung
Shared letters: beginuä. Private to "Befähigung": fh. Private to "Betätigung": t.
"Befähigung" · 10 letters · shape CVCVCVCVCC · "Betätigung" · 10 letters · shape CVCVCVCVCC
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "Befähigung" and "Betätigung" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "Befähigung" or "Betätigung"?
Remembering Befähigung vs Betätigung
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 “Befähigung” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable