PilzvsPilzenWhat's the difference?

Which to use

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

#9,962
“Pilz” frequency rank
#21,731
“Pilzen” frequency rank
31693
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature Pilz Pilzen
Definition aus schlauchförmigen Fäden bestehender Organismus ohne Blattgrün (Reich Fungi); hat sowohl tierische als auch pflanzliche Eigenschaften Dativ Plural des Substantivs Pilz

Where the spellings diverge

Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set Pilz and Pilzen apart are highlighted. They share 4 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.

4 ch
Pilz
6 ch
Pilzen

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

Pilz and Pilzen form a confusable pair in the German index, two distinct headwords that are easily confused because they look alike, sound alike, or both. They differ by 2 extra letter(s) - “Pilz” sits inside “Pilzen” - close enough that the eye skips over the difference, far enough that meaning fully diverges. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 31693, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

Pilz is recorded at frequency rank #9,962, classified as anoun, pronounced [pɪlt͡s]. Pilzen is at rank #21,731, tagged as anoun, pronounced [ˈpɪlt͡sn̩].

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 31693, this pair ranks #1,723,013 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.

Frequency comparison

Pilz#9,962
Pilzen#21,731

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list

Frequently Asked Questions

Can "Pilz" and "Pilzen" be used interchangeably?
No, "Pilz" and "Pilzen" have distinct meanings and cannot be swapped without changing the meaning of a sentence. Understanding the specific definition and context for each word is essential for correct usage.

Remembering Pilz vs Pilzen

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 “Pilz” 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 FrequencyWords open word-frequency list