Which to use
“höchstens” is an adverb and “höchster” is an adjective - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #3,458
- “höchstens” frequency rank
- #8,223
- “höchster” frequency rank
- 11681
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | höchstens | höchster |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | nicht mehr als, im besten Fall | Nominativ Singular Maskulinum der starken Deklination des Superlativs des Adjektivs hoch |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set höchstens and höchster apart are highlighted. They share 7 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: höchstens is [ˈhøːçstn̩s] while höchster is [ˈhøːçstɐ]. Spoken aloud the problem disappears. In writing it persists, because they differ by 1 letter(s) in length, and the parts of speech differ too (adverb vs adjective), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 11681, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
höchstens is recorded at frequency rank #3,458, classified as anadv, pronounced [ˈhøːçstn̩s]. höchster is at rank #8,223, tagged as anadj, pronounced [ˈhøːçstɐ].
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 11681, this pair ranks #1,968,517 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of höchstens vs höchster
Shared letters: cehstö. Private to "höchstens": n. Private to "höchster": r.
"höchstens" · 9 letters · shape CVCCCCVCC · "höchster" · 8 letters · shape CVCCCCVC
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "höchstens" and "höchster" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "höchstens" or "höchster"?
Remembering höchstens vs höchster
The fastest way to pick the right one every time.
- Check the role first: if you need an adverb, it's “höchstens”; for an adjective, it's “höchster”.
- See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “höchstens” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable