Which to use
“Ruhe” and “Ruin” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #1,120
- “Ruhe” frequency rank
- #21,044
- “Ruin” frequency rank
- 22164
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Ruhe | Ruin |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Abwesenheit von Ablenkung, Störung, Geräusch und Bewegung; (fast völlige) Stille und Bewegungslosigkeit | Zustand des vollständigen finanziellen, gesundheitlichen oder moralischen Zusammenbruchs |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set Ruhe and Ruin 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. Ruhe ([ˈʁuːə]) and Ruin ([ʁuˈiːn]) 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 22164, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
Ruhe is recorded at frequency rank #1,120, classified as anoun, pronounced [ˈʁuːə]. Ruin is at rank #21,044, tagged as anoun, pronounced [ʁuˈiːn].
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 22164, this pair ranks #1,877,529 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of Ruhe vs Ruin
Shared letters: ru. Private to "Ruhe": eh. Private to "Ruin": in.
"Ruhe" · 4 letters · shape CVCV · "Ruin" · 4 letters · shape CVVC
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "Ruhe" and "Ruin" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "Ruhe" or "Ruin"?
Remembering Ruhe vs Ruin
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 “Ruhe” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable