Which to use
“nei” is a verb and “nic” is a pronoun - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #38,309
- “nei” frequency rank
- #33,733
- “nic” frequency rank
- 72042
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | nei | nic |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | verneinen, negieren, abstreiten | nichts |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set nei and nic apart are highlighted. They share 2 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
Our dataset has no pronunciation recorded for both members, so the reliable separator here is grammatical: nei is averb and nicapronoun. On the page they share most of their letters but differ in 2 positions. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 72042, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
nei is recorded at frequency rank #38,309, classified as averb, pronounced […]. nic is at rank #33,733, tagged as apron, pronounced [ɲit͡s].
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 72042, this pair ranks #399,498 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - among the most confusable pairs.
Orthographic DNA of nei vs nic
Shared letters: in. Private to "nei": e. Private to "nic": c.
"nei" · 3 letters · shape CVV · "nic" · 3 letters · shape CVC
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "nei" and "nic" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "nei" or "nic"?
Remembering nei vs nic
The fastest way to pick the right one every time.
- Check the role first: if you need a verb, it's “nei”; for a pronoun, it's “nic”.
- See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “nei” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable