KlosvsKlotzWhat's the difference?

Which to use

“Klos” and “Klotz” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.

#29,193
“Klos” frequency rank
#20,976
“Klotz” frequency rank
50169
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature Klos Klotz
Definition Genitiv Singular des Substantivs Klo ursprünglich hölzerner kantiger großer Gegenstand

Where the spellings diverge

Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set Klos and Klotz apart are highlighted. They share 3 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.

4 ch
Klos
5 ch
Klotz

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

A purely visual mix-up. Klos ([kloːs]) and Klotz ([klɔt͡s]) 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 50169, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

Klos is recorded at frequency rank #29,193, classified as anoun, pronounced [kloːs]. Klotz is at rank #20,976, tagged as anoun, pronounced [klɔt͡s].

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 50169, this pair ranks #1,183,987 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.

Orthographic DNA of Klos vs Klotz

Shared letters: klo. Private to "Klos": s. Private to "Klotz": tz.

"Klos" · 4 letters · shape CCVC  ·  "Klotz" · 5 letters · shape CCVCC

Known mistypes of this pair

  • Kloskklos · kllos · kloss · klso · kols · lkos
  • Klotzkklotz · kllotz · klottz · klotzz · klozt · kltoz · koltz · lkotz

Frequency comparison

Klos#29,193
Klotz#20,976

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list

Frequently Asked Questions

Can "Klos" and "Klotz" be used interchangeably?
No. They are said differently ([kloːs] versus [klɔt͡s]) and carry different meanings; reading the sentence aloud is usually enough to catch the wrong one.
Which is more common, "Klos" or "Klotz"?
"Klotz" is the more common of the two: it sits at frequency rank #20,976 in our German list, against #29,193 for "Klos". The two are close in frequency, so neither is a safe default; check the meaning rather than guessing.

Remembering Klos vs Klotz

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 “Klos” entry
  • Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list