Which to use
“hei” and “hej” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #15,652
- “hei” frequency rank
- #48,213
- “hej” frequency rank
- 63865
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | hei | hej |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Ausruf der Freude, Begeisterung oder Verwunderung | informelle Grußformel |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set hei and hej apart are highlighted. They share 2 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. hei ([haɪ̯]) and hej ([haɪ]) 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 - i in “hei” becomes j in “hej”. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 63865, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
hei is recorded at frequency rank #15,652, classified as anintj, pronounced [haɪ̯]. hej is at rank #48,213, tagged as anintj, pronounced [haɪ].
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 63865, this pair ranks #661,631 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of hei vs hej
Shared letters: eh. Private to "hei": i. Private to "hej": j.
"hei" · 3 letters · shape CVV · "hej" · 3 letters · shape CVC
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "hei" and "hej" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "hei" or "hej"?
Remembering hei vs hej
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 “hei” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable