datavsDatumConfusable pair

Which to use

“data” and “Datum” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.

#5,468
“data” frequency rank
#3,303
“Datum” frequency rank
8771
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature data Datum
Definition Bezeichnung eines bestimmten Tages im Kalender; Datum Angabe des Kalendertages

Where the eye mixes data and Datum

Muted = shared; highlighted = the visual trap. They share 3 letters in sequence.

4 ch
data
5 ch
Datum

Why the eye confuses data with Datum

A purely visual mix-up. data ([ˈdaːta]) and Datum ([ˈdaːtʊm]) are said differently, so reading them aloud is the quickest way to catch the wrong one. On the page they stay close: they differ by 1 letter(s) in length. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 8771, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

data is recorded at frequency rank #5,468, classified as anoun, pronounced [ˈdaːta]. Datum is at rank #3,303, tagged as anoun, pronounced [ˈdaːtʊm].

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 8771, this pair ranks #1,982,911 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.

Orthographic DNA of data vs Datum

Shared letters: adt. Private to "data": -. Private to "Datum": mu.

"data" · 4 letters · shape CVCV  ·  "Datum" · 5 letters · shape CVCVC

Known mistypes of this pair

  • dataadta · daat · datta · ddata · dtaa
  • Datumadtum · datmu · dattum · datumm · dautm · ddatum · dtaum

Frequently Asked Questions

Do "data" and "Datum" mean the same thing in a sentence?
No. They are said differently ([ˈdaːta] versus [ˈdaːtʊm]) and carry different meanings; reading the sentence aloud is usually enough to catch the wrong one.
Which is more common, "data" or "Datum"?
"Datum" is the more common of the two: it sits at frequency rank #3,303 in our German list, against #5,468 for "data". The two are close in frequency, so neither is a safe default; check the meaning rather than guessing.

After this comparison

Visual near-miss handled. Browse the word pages or a neighbour when the next look-alike shows up.

  • Full dictionary entry for "data" with definition, IPA, and generated misspellings. Word entry
  • Full dictionary entry for "Datum" - compare definitions side by side with the headword page. Word entry
  • This pair ranks #1,982,911 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs in this corpus vintage. Corpus statistics
  • "data" and "Datum" also get mixed up with nearby pairs, the highest-scored neighbour is "DAAD vs data". Nearby pair
  • Recorded mistypes exist for at least one side of this pair, useful when a spell-checker or OCR lands on the wrong form. See mistypes

Confusion rank #1,982,911 of 2,006,359 scored German pairs, corpus vintage 2026-09-03, not spelling advice.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list