Which to use
“Hafen” and “Hefe” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #3,532
- “Hafen” frequency rank
- #19,250
- “Hefe” frequency rank
- 22782
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Hafen | Hefe |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | natürliches oder künstlich angelegtes Wasserbecken für Schiffe am Meeresrand oder an Binnenwasserwegen, um dort zu liegen und zu ankern, mit Anlagen zum Löschen, Laden, Reinigen und Ausbessern | einzelliger Pilz (zumeist Saccharomycetaceae aber auch Pichiaceae und Incertae sedis), der sich sexuell und/oder asexuell zumeist durch Sprossung, aber auch durch Spaltung (Schizosaccharomycetaceae), vermehrt |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set Hafen and Hefe apart are highlighted. They share 3 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. Hafen ([ˈhaːfn̩]) and Hefe ([ˈheːfə]) 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 22782, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
Hafen is recorded at frequency rank #3,532, classified as anoun, pronounced [ˈhaːfn̩]. Hefe is at rank #19,250, tagged as anoun, pronounced [ˈheːfə].
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 22782, this pair ranks #1,869,828 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of Hafen vs Hefe
Shared letters: efh. Private to "Hafen": an. Private to "Hefe": -.
"Hafen" · 5 letters · shape CVCVC · "Hefe" · 4 letters · shape CVCV
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "Hafen" and "Hefe" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "Hafen" or "Hefe"?
Remembering Hafen vs Hefe
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 “Hafen” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable