Which to use
“gefühlt” and “gequält” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #3,314
- “gefühlt” frequency rank
- #17,008
- “gequält” frequency rank
- 20322
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | gefühlt | gequält |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Partizip Perfekt des Verbs fühlen | Partizip Perfekt des Verbs quälen |
Where the eye mixes gefühlt and gequält
Muted = shared; highlighted = the visual trap. They share 4 letters in sequence. gefühlt (CVCVCCC) and gequält (CVCVVCC) run the same length but a different consonant-vowel pattern - the shape difference is usually the fastest tell.
Why the eye confuses gefühlt with gequält
A purely visual mix-up. gefühlt ([ɡəˈfyːlt]) and gequält ([ɡəˈkvɛːlt]) 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 3 positions. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 20322, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
gefühlt is recorded at frequency rank #3,314, classified as averb, pronounced [ɡəˈfyːlt]. gequält is at rank #17,008, tagged as averb, pronounced [ɡəˈkvɛːlt].
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 20322, this pair ranks #1,898,956 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of gefühlt vs gequält
Shared letters: eglt. Private to "gefühlt": fhü. Private to "gequält": quä.
"gefühlt" · 7 letters · shape CVCVCCC · "gequält" · 7 letters · shape CVCVVCC
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "gefühlt" and "gequält" be used interchangeably?
Frequency check: "gefühlt" vs "gequält" - which ranks higher?
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 "gefühlt" with definition, IPA, and generated misspellings. Word entry
- Full dictionary entry for "gequält" - compare definitions side by side with the headword page. Word entry
- This pair ranks #1,898,956 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs in this corpus vintage. Corpus statistics
- "gefühlt" and "gequält" also get mixed up with nearby pairs, the highest-scored neighbour is "gehüllt vs gequält". Nearby pair
Confusion rank #1,898,956 of 2,006,359 scored German pairs, corpus vintage 2026-09-03, not spelling advice.