Which to use
“lachen” and “lächle” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #1,486
- “lachen” frequency rank
- #39,515
- “lächle” frequency rank
- 41001
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | lachen | lächle |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | wegen Belustigung den Mund öffnen und Laute ausstoßen | 2. Person Singular Imperativ Präsens Aktiv des Verbs lächeln |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set lachen and lächle apart are highlighted. They share 4 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. lachen ([ˈlaxn̩]) and lächle ([ˈlɛçlə]) are said differently, so reading them aloud is the quickest way to catch the wrong one. On the page they stay close: they share most of their letters but differ in 3 positions. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 41001, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
lachen is recorded at frequency rank #1,486, classified as averb, pronounced [ˈlaxn̩]. lächle is at rank #39,515, tagged as averb, pronounced [ˈlɛçlə].
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 41001, this pair ranks #1,492,139 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of lachen vs lächle
Shared letters: cehl. Private to "lachen": an. Private to "lächle": ä.
"lachen" · 6 letters · shape CVCCVC · "lächle" · 6 letters · shape CVCCCV
Known mistypes of this pair
- lachen ← alchen · lacchen · lacehn · lachenn · lachhen · lachne · lahcen · lcahen
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "lachen" and "lächle" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "lachen" or "lächle"?
Remembering lachen vs lächle
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 “lachen” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable