Which to use
“klein” and “kleines” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #995
- “klein” frequency rank
- #1,300
- “kleines” frequency rank
- 2295
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | klein | kleines |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | von geringem Ausmaß | Nominativ Singular Neutrum Positiv der starken Flexion des Adjektivs klein |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set klein and kleines 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. klein ([klaɪ̯n]) and kleines ([ˈklaɪ̯nəs]) 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 2 extra letter(s) - “klein” sits inside “kleines”. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 2295, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
klein is recorded at frequency rank #995, classified as anadj, pronounced [klaɪ̯n]. kleines is at rank #1,300, tagged as anadj, pronounced [ˈklaɪ̯nəs].
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 2295, this pair ranks #2,002,680 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of klein vs kleines
Shared letters: eikln. Private to "klein": -. Private to "kleines": s.
"klein" · 5 letters · shape CCVVC · "kleines" · 7 letters · shape CCVVCVC
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "klein" and "kleines" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "klein" or "kleines"?
Remembering klein vs kleines
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 “klein” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable