Which to use
“riechen” and “riechst” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #9,254
- “riechen” frequency rank
- #42,767
- “riechst” frequency rank
- 52021
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | riechen | riechst |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | den Geruch von etwas mit der Nase wahrnehmen | 2. Person Singular Indikativ Präsens Aktiv des Verbs riechen |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set riechen and riechst apart are highlighted. They share 5 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. riechen ([ˈʁiːçn̩]) and riechst ([ʁiːçst]) 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 52021, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
riechen is recorded at frequency rank #9,254, classified as averb, pronounced [ˈʁiːçn̩]. riechst is at rank #42,767, tagged as averb, pronounced [ʁiːçst].
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 52021, this pair ranks #1,112,977 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of riechen vs riechst
Shared letters: cehir. Private to "riechen": n. Private to "riechst": st.
"riechen" · 7 letters · shape CVVCCVC · "riechst" · 7 letters · shape CVVCCCC
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "riechen" and "riechst" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "riechen" or "riechst"?
Remembering riechen vs riechst
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 “riechen” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable