Which to use
“matter” and “mattes” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #18,623
- “matter” frequency rank
- #38,895
- “mattes” frequency rank
- 57518
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | matter | mattes |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Nominativ Singular Maskulinum Positiv der starken Flexion des Adjektivs matt | Nominativ Singular Neutrum der starken Deklination des Positivs des Adjektivs matt |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set matter and mattes 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. matter ([ˈmatɐ]) and mattes ([ˈmatəs]) 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 a single letter - r in “matter” becomes s in “mattes”. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 57518, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
matter is recorded at frequency rank #18,623, classified as anadj, pronounced [ˈmatɐ]. mattes is at rank #38,895, tagged as anadj, pronounced [ˈmatəs].
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 57518, this pair ranks #898,289 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of matter vs mattes
Shared letters: aemt. Private to "matter": r. Private to "mattes": s.
"matter" · 6 letters · shape CVCCVC · "mattes" · 6 letters · shape CVCCVC
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "matter" and "mattes" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "matter" or "mattes"?
Remembering matter vs mattes
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 “matter” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable