elftevsElsterWhat's the difference?

Quick tell: elfte is a num, Elster is a noun, so they fill different roles in a sentence.

Which to use

“elfte” is a num and “Elster” is a noun - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.

#31,024
“elfte” frequency rank
#15,613
“Elster” frequency rank
46637
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature elfte Elster
Definition nach dem beziehungsweise der zehnten kommend; dem zwölften vorausgehend ein langschwänziger Vogel (Pica und verwandte Gattungen) aus der Familie der Rabenvögel (Corvidae)

Where the spellings diverge

Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set elfte and Elster apart are highlighted. They share 4 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.

5 ch
elfte
6 ch
Elster

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

elfte and Elster form a confusable pair in the German index, two distinct headwords that are easily confused because they look alike, sound alike, or both. They differ by 1 letter(s) in length - close enough that the eye skips over the difference, far enough that meaning fully diverges. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 46637, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

elfte is recorded at frequency rank #31,024, classified as anum, pronounced [ˈɛlftə]. Elster is at rank #15,613, tagged as anoun, pronounced [ˈɛlstɐ].

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 46637, this pair ranks #1,312,284 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.

Frequency comparison

elfte#31,024
Elster#15,613

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list

Frequently Asked Questions

Can "elfte" and "Elster" be used interchangeably?
No, "elfte" and "Elster" have distinct meanings and cannot be swapped without changing the meaning of a sentence. Understanding the specific definition and context for each word is essential for correct usage.

Remembering elfte vs Elster

The fastest way to pick the right one every time.

  • Check the role first: if you need a num, it's “elfte”; for a noun, it's “Elster”.
  • See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “elfte” entry
  • Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list