Which to use
“Geruch” and “Gesuch” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #5,369
- “Geruch” frequency rank
- #26,430
- “Gesuch” frequency rank
- 31799
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Geruch | Gesuch |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | durch das Geruchsorgan wahrgenommene Ausdünstung; subjektive Sinneswahrnehmung | Schreiben, das jemand an eine Behörde richtet, um eine Genehmigung oder Bewilligung zu erhalten |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set Geruch and Gesuch apart are highlighted. They share 5 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. Geruch ([ɡəˈʁʊx]) and Gesuch ([ɡəˈzuːx]) 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 a single letter - r in “Geruch” becomes s in “Gesuch”. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 31799, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
Geruch is recorded at frequency rank #5,369, classified as anoun, pronounced [ɡəˈʁʊx]. Gesuch is at rank #26,430, tagged as anoun, pronounced [ɡəˈzuːx].
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 31799, this pair ranks #1,720,783 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of Geruch vs Gesuch
Shared letters: ceghu. Private to "Geruch": r. Private to "Gesuch": s.
"Geruch" · 6 letters · shape CVCVCC · "Gesuch" · 6 letters · shape CVCVCC
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "Geruch" and "Gesuch" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "Geruch" or "Gesuch"?
Remembering Geruch vs Gesuch
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 “Geruch” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable