Which to use
“Hesse” and “Hexe” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #11,066
- “Hesse” frequency rank
- #11,254
- “Hexe” frequency rank
- 22320
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Hesse | Hexe |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | ein im Bundesland Hessen (Deutschland) geborener oder dort auf Dauer lebender Mensch | weibliches, bösgesinntes und dämonisches Märchen- oder Sagenwesen zumeist in Gestalt einer hässlichen, zauberkräftigen Greisin mit einem Buckel und einer langen, krummen Nase, die Schadenszauber auf den Menschen ausüben kann und mit dem Teufel durch einen Pakt oder Buhlschaft verbündet ist |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set Hesse and Hexe 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. Hesse ([ˈhɛsə]) and Hexe ([ˈhɛksə]) 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 22320, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
Hesse is recorded at frequency rank #11,066, classified as anoun, pronounced [ˈhɛsə]. Hexe is at rank #11,254, tagged as anoun, pronounced [ˈhɛksə].
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 22320, this pair ranks #1,875,597 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of Hesse vs Hexe
Shared letters: eh. Private to "Hesse": s. Private to "Hexe": x.
"Hesse" · 5 letters · shape CVCCV · "Hexe" · 4 letters · shape CVCV
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "Hesse" and "Hexe" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "Hesse" or "Hexe"?
Remembering Hesse vs Hexe
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 “Hesse” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable