Which to use
“Reif” and “Reue” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #7,983
- “Reif” frequency rank
- #14,910
- “Reue” frequency rank
- 22893
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Reif | Reue |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | kristalline Ablagerung aus gefrorenem Wasser, die sich in kalten Nächten durch Resublimation an Pflanzen und Gegenständen bildet | Bedauern über die eigene Tat, Selbstschuldbewusstsein |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set Reif and Reue apart are highlighted. They share 2 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. Reif ([ʁaɪ̯f]) and Reue ([ˈʁɔɪ̯ə]) are said differently, so reading them aloud is the quickest way to catch the wrong one. On the page they stay close: they share most of their letters but differ in 2 positions. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 22893, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
Reif is recorded at frequency rank #7,983, classified as anoun, pronounced [ʁaɪ̯f]. Reue is at rank #14,910, tagged as anoun, pronounced [ˈʁɔɪ̯ə].
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 22893, this pair ranks #1,868,351 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of Reif vs Reue
Shared letters: er. Private to "Reif": fi. Private to "Reue": u.
"Reif" · 4 letters · shape CVVC · "Reue" · 4 letters · shape CVVV
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "Reif" and "Reue" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "Reif" or "Reue"?
Remembering Reif vs Reue
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 “Reif” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable