genügtvsgenügteWhat's the difference?

Which to use

“genügt” and “genügte” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.

#5,837
“genügt” frequency rank
#30,573
“genügte” frequency rank
36410
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature genügt genügte
Definition Partizip Perfekt des Verbs genügen 1. Person Singular Indikativ Präteritum Aktiv des Verbs genügen

Where the spellings diverge

Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set genügt and genügte apart are highlighted. They share 6 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.

6 ch
genügt
7 ch
genügte

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

A purely visual mix-up. genügt ([ɡəˈnyːkt]) and genügte ([ɡəˈnyːktə]) 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) - “genügt” sits inside “genügte”. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 36410, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

genügt is recorded at frequency rank #5,837, classified as averb, pronounced [ɡəˈnyːkt]. genügte is at rank #30,573, tagged as averb, pronounced [ɡəˈnyːktə].

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 36410, this pair ranks #1,616,304 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.

Orthographic DNA of genügt vs genügte

Shared letters: egntü. Private to "genügt": -. Private to "genügte": -.

"genügt" · 6 letters · shape CVCVCC  ·  "genügte" · 7 letters · shape CVCVCCV

Frequency comparison

genügt#5,837
genügte#30,573

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list

Frequently Asked Questions

Can "genügt" and "genügte" be used interchangeably?
No. They are said differently ([ɡəˈnyːkt] versus [ɡəˈnyːktə]) and carry different meanings; reading the sentence aloud is usually enough to catch the wrong one.
Which is more common, "genügt" or "genügte"?
"genügt" is the more common of the two: it sits at frequency rank #5,837 in our German list, against #30,573 for "genügte". The two are close in frequency, so neither is a safe default; check the meaning rather than guessing.

Remembering genügt vs genügte

The fastest way to pick the right one every time.

  • Read both glosses above and match the meaning you intend, only context separates this pair.
  • See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “genügt” 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