Which to use
“härten” and “hörten” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #47,493
- “härten” frequency rank
- #11,457
- “hörten” frequency rank
- 58950
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | härten | hörten |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | transitiv: | 1. Person Plural Indikativ Präteritum Aktiv des Verbs hören |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set härten and hörten 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. härten ([ˈhɛʁtn̩]) and hörten ([ˈhøːɐ̯tn̩]) 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 - ä in “härten” becomes ö in “hörten”. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 58950, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
härten is recorded at frequency rank #47,493, classified as averb, pronounced [ˈhɛʁtn̩]. hörten is at rank #11,457, tagged as averb, pronounced [ˈhøːɐ̯tn̩].
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 58950, this pair ranks #843,029 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of härten vs hörten
Shared letters: ehnrt. Private to "härten": ä. Private to "hörten": ö.
"härten" · 6 letters · shape CVCCVC · "hörten" · 6 letters · shape CVCCVC
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "härten" and "hörten" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "härten" or "hörten"?
Remembering härten vs hörten
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 “härten” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable