Which to use
“Mädchen” and “Mädchens” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #534
- “Mädchen” frequency rank
- #11,485
- “Mädchens” frequency rank
- 12019
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Mädchen | Mädchens |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | weibliches Kind | Genitiv Singular des Substantivs Mädchen |
Where the eye mixes Mädchen and Mädchens
Muted = shared; highlighted = the visual trap. They share 7 letters in sequence. Mädchen runs 7 letters (CVCCCVC) against Mädchens's 8 (CVCCCVCC) - the length gap alone is often enough to separate them once you know to check it.
Look-alike desk: Mädchen vs Mädchens
A purely visual mix-up. Mädchen ([ˈmɛːtçən]) and Mädchens ([ˈmɛːtçəns]) 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 extra letter(s) - “Mädchen” sits inside “Mädchens”. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 12019, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
Mädchen is recorded at frequency rank #534, classified as anoun, pronounced [ˈmɛːtçən]. Mädchens is at rank #11,485, tagged as anoun, pronounced [ˈmɛːtçəns].
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 12019, this pair ranks #1,966,647 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of Mädchen vs Mädchens
Shared letters: cdehmnä. Private to "Mädchen": -. Private to "Mädchens": s.
"Mädchen" · 7 letters · shape CVCCCVC · "Mädchens" · 8 letters · shape CVCCCVCC
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "Mädchen" and "Mädchens" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "Mädchen" or "Mädchens"?
After this comparison
Pronunciation already separates them, if the page still looks alike, the dictionary links below settle it.
- Full dictionary entry for "Mädchen" with definition, IPA, and generated misspellings. Word entry
- Full dictionary entry for "Mädchens" - compare definitions side by side with the headword page. Word entry
- This pair ranks #1,966,647 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs in this corpus vintage. Corpus statistics
- "Mädchen" and "Mädchens" also get mixed up with nearby pairs, the highest-scored neighbour is "Mädchen vs Madsen". Nearby pair
Confusion rank #1,966,647 of 2,006,359 scored German pairs, corpus vintage 2026-09-03, not spelling advice.