RatevsRatteWhat's the difference?

Which to use

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

#5,411
“Rate” frequency rank
#16,809
“Ratte” frequency rank
22220
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature Rate Ratte
Definition in Prozent ausgedrücktes Verhältnis zwischen zwei Größen mausähnliches Nagetier

Where the spellings diverge

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

4 ch
Rate
5 ch
Ratte

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

This is the hard kind. Rate and Ratte are pronounced identically ([ˈʁaːtə]) and both work as anoun. Neither the ear nor the grammar will rescue you; only the meaning does, so the glosses below are the whole decision. They differ by 1 letter(s) in length. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 22220, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

Rate is recorded at frequency rank #5,411, classified as anoun, pronounced [ˈʁaːtə]. Ratte is at rank #16,809, tagged as anoun, pronounced [ˈʁatə].

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 22220, this pair ranks #1,876,851 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.

Orthographic DNA of Rate vs Ratte

Shared letters: aert. Private to "Rate": -. Private to "Ratte": -.

"Rate" · 4 letters · shape CVCV  ·  "Ratte" · 5 letters · shape CVCCV

Known mistypes of this pair

  • Rateraet · rrate · rtae
  • Ratterratte · rtate

Frequency comparison

Rate#5,411
Ratte#16,809

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list

Frequently Asked Questions

Can "Rate" and "Ratte" be used interchangeably?
No. They are pronounced the same ([ˈʁaːtə]), which is exactly why they get swapped in writing, but the dictionary meanings above are different, and pronunciation is no guide here.
Which is more common, "Rate" or "Ratte"?
"Rate" is the more common of the two: it sits at frequency rank #5,411 in our German list, against #16,809 for "Ratte". The two are close in frequency, so neither is a safe default; check the meaning rather than guessing.

Remembering Rate vs Ratte

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 “Rate” 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