Which to use
“Dates” and “Datum” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #13,798
- “Dates” frequency rank
- #3,303
- “Datum” frequency rank
- 17101
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Dates | Datum |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Nominativ Plural des Substantivs Date | Angabe des Kalendertages |
Where the eye mixes Dates and Datum
Muted = shared; highlighted = the visual trap. They share 3 letters in sequence.
Why the eye confuses Dates with Datum
A purely visual mix-up. Dates ([deɪt͡s]) 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 share most of their letters but differ in 2 positions. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 17101, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
Dates is recorded at frequency rank #13,798, classified as anoun, pronounced [deɪt͡s]. 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 17101, this pair ranks #1,930,348 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of Dates vs Datum
Shared letters: adt. Private to "Dates": es. Private to "Datum": mu.
"Dates" · 5 letters · shape CVCVC · "Datum" · 5 letters · shape CVCVC
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequently Asked Questions
Do "Dates" and "Datum" mean the same thing in a sentence?
Which is more common, "Dates" or "Datum"?
Useful next steps
Pronunciation already separates them, if the page still looks alike, the dictionary links below settle it.
- Full dictionary entry for "Dates" 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 #1,930,348 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs in this corpus vintage. Corpus statistics
- "Dates" and "Datum" also get mixed up with nearby pairs, the highest-scored neighbour is "Dates vs dudes". 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 #1,930,348 of 2,006,359 scored German pairs, corpus vintage 2026-09-03, not spelling advice.