Which to use
“files” and “Filz” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #31,544
- “files” frequency rank
- #24,717
- “Filz” frequency rank
- 56261
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | files | Filz |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Plural des Substantivs file | wirrer Faserstoff, der aus nicht gesponnenen (Tier)haaren oder Wolle durch Zusammenpressen hergestellt wird |
Where the eye mixes files and Filz
Muted = shared; highlighted = the visual trap. They share 3 letters in sequence. files runs 5 letters (CVCVC) against Filz's 4 (CVCC) - the length gap alone is often enough to separate them once you know to check it.
Why the eye confuses files with Filz
A purely visual mix-up. files ([faɪlz]) and Filz ([fɪlt͡s]) 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 56261, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
files is recorded at frequency rank #31,544, classified as anoun, pronounced [faɪlz]. Filz is at rank #24,717, tagged as anoun, pronounced [fɪlt͡s].
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 56261, this pair ranks #947,098 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of files vs Filz
Shared letters: fil. Private to "files": es. Private to "Filz": z.
"files" · 5 letters · shape CVCVC · "Filz" · 4 letters · shape CVCC
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequently Asked Questions
Do "files" and "Filz" mean the same thing in a sentence?
Frequency check: "files" vs "Filz" - which ranks higher?
What to do next
Visual near-miss handled. Browse the word pages or a neighbour when the next look-alike shows up.
- Full dictionary entry for "files" with definition, IPA, and generated misspellings. Word entry
- Full dictionary entry for "Filz" - compare definitions side by side with the headword page. Word entry
- This pair ranks #947,098 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs in this corpus vintage. Corpus statistics
- "files" and "Filz" 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 #947,098 of 2,006,359 scored German pairs, corpus vintage 2026-09-03, not spelling advice.