Which to use
“Pate” and “Pfote” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #19,335
- “Pate” frequency rank
- #40,136
- “Pfote” frequency rank
- 59471
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Pate | Pfote |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Ehrenamt in christlichen Kirchen zur Unterstützung der Eltern bei der religiösen Erziehung und Zeuge bei einer Sakramentsspendung | (mit Ausnahme der Huftiere – vom Rind, Schaf, Schwein abgesehen, deren Extremitäten gelegentlich »Pfoten« anstatt »Klauen« genannt werden – und Primaten) bei landlebenden Säugetieren (zumeist Raubtieren) in Zehen gespaltenes Ende der Extremitäten |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set Pate and Pfote apart are highlighted. They share 3 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. Pate ([ˈpaːtə]) and Pfote ([ˈp͡foːtə]) 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 letter(s) in length. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 59471, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
Pate is recorded at frequency rank #19,335, classified as anoun, pronounced [ˈpaːtə]. Pfote is at rank #40,136, tagged as anoun, pronounced [ˈp͡foːtə].
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 59471, this pair ranks #823,322 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of Pate vs Pfote
Shared letters: ept. Private to "Pate": a. Private to "Pfote": fo.
"Pate" · 4 letters · shape CVCV · "Pfote" · 5 letters · shape CCVCV
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "Pate" and "Pfote" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "Pate" or "Pfote"?
Remembering Pate vs Pfote
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 “Pate” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable