LochvsLöcherWhat's the difference?

Which to use

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

#3,054
“Loch” frequency rank
#6,449
“Löcher” frequency rank
9503
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature Loch Löcher
Definition Stelle in einer homogenen Masse, an der Substanz fehlt Nominativ Plural des Substantivs Loch

Where the spellings diverge

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

4 ch
Loch
6 ch
Löcher

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

A purely visual mix-up. Loch ([lɔx]) and Löcher ([ˈlœçɐ]) 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 letter(s) in length. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 9503, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

Loch is recorded at frequency rank #3,054, classified as anoun, pronounced [lɔx]. Löcher is at rank #6,449, tagged as anoun, pronounced [ˈlœçɐ].

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 9503, this pair ranks #1,979,634 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.

Orthographic DNA of Loch vs Löcher

Shared letters: chl. Private to "Loch": o. Private to "Löcher": erö.

"Loch" · 4 letters · shape CVCC  ·  "Löcher" · 6 letters · shape CVCCVC

Known mistypes of this pair

  • Lochlcoh · lloch · locch · lochh · lohc · olch

Frequency comparison

Loch#3,054
Löcher#6,449

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list

Frequently Asked Questions

Can "Loch" and "Löcher" be used interchangeably?
No. They are said differently ([lɔx] versus [ˈlœçɐ]) and carry different meanings; reading the sentence aloud is usually enough to catch the wrong one.
Which is more common, "Loch" or "Löcher"?
"Loch" is the more common of the two: it sits at frequency rank #3,054 in our German list, against #6,449 for "Löcher". The two are close in frequency, so neither is a safe default; check the meaning rather than guessing.

Remembering Loch vs Löcher

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 “Loch” 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