Which to use
“Hauptsache” and “Hauptursache” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #3,453
- “Hauptsache” frequency rank
- #39,412
- “Hauptursache” frequency rank
- 42865
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Hauptsache | Hauptursache |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | das Wichtigste; das Entscheidende; das, worum es am meisten geht | entscheidender/wesentlicher Grund |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set Hauptsache and Hauptursache apart are highlighted. They share 10 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
Hauptsache and Hauptursache form a confusable pair in the German index, two distinct headwords that are easily confused because they look alike, sound alike, or both. They differ by 2 letter(s) in length - close enough that the eye skips over the difference, far enough that meaning fully diverges. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 42865, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
Hauptsache is recorded at frequency rank #3,453, classified as anoun, pronounced [ˈhaʊ̯ptˌzaxə]. Hauptursache is at rank #39,412, tagged as anoun, pronounced [ˈhaʊ̯ptʔuːɐ̯ˌzaxə].
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 42865, this pair ranks #1,436,079 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "Hauptsache" and "Hauptursache" be used interchangeably?
Remembering Hauptsache vs Hauptursache
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 “Hauptsache” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable