Which to use
“file” and “files” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #24,335
- “file” frequency rank
- #31,544
- “files” frequency rank
- 55879
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | file | files |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Behältnis zur geordneten Aufbewahrung von Briefen oder anderen Dokumenten | Plural des Substantivs file |
Where the eye mixes file and files
Muted = shared; highlighted = the visual trap. They share 4 letters in sequence. file runs 4 letters (CVCV) against files's 5 (CVCVC) - the length gap alone is often enough to separate them once you know to check it.
Why the eye confuses file with files
A purely visual mix-up. file ([faɪl]) and files ([faɪlz]) 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 extra letter(s) - “file” sits inside “files”. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 55879, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
file is recorded at frequency rank #24,335, classified as anoun, pronounced [faɪl]. files is at rank #31,544, tagged as anoun, pronounced [faɪlz].
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 55879, this pair ranks #962,170 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of file vs files
Shared letters: efil. Private to "file": -. Private to "files": s.
"file" · 4 letters · shape CVCV · "files" · 5 letters · shape CVCVC
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequently Asked Questions
Is swapping "file" for "files" ever safe?
Frequency check: "file" vs "files" - which ranks higher?
Useful next steps
Pronunciation already separates them, if the page still looks alike, the dictionary links below settle it.
- Full dictionary entry for "file" with definition, IPA, and generated misspellings. Word entry
- Full dictionary entry for "files" - compare definitions side by side with the headword page. Word entry
- This pair ranks #962,170 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs in this corpus vintage. Corpus statistics
- "file" and "files" also get mixed up with nearby pairs, the highest-scored neighbour is "files vs fils". 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 #962,170 of 2,006,359 scored German pairs, corpus vintage 2026-09-03, not spelling advice.