Which to use
“schlüpfen” and “schlüpfte” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #17,400
- “schlüpfen” frequency rank
- #43,472
- “schlüpfte” frequency rank
- 60872
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | schlüpfen | schlüpfte |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | sich schnell (durch eine enge Öffnung gleitend) an einen bestimmten Ort begeben | 1. Person Singular Indikativ Präteritum Aktiv des Verbs schlüpfen |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set schlüpfen and schlüpfte apart are highlighted. They share 8 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. schlüpfen ([ˈʃlʏp͡fn̩]) and schlüpfte ([ˈʃlʏp͡ftə]) 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 60872, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
schlüpfen is recorded at frequency rank #17,400, classified as averb, pronounced [ˈʃlʏp͡fn̩]. schlüpfte is at rank #43,472, tagged as averb, pronounced [ˈʃlʏp͡ftə].
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 60872, this pair ranks #770,745 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of schlüpfen vs schlüpfte
Shared letters: cefhlpsü. Private to "schlüpfen": n. Private to "schlüpfte": t.
"schlüpfen" · 9 letters · shape CCCCVCCVC · "schlüpfte" · 9 letters · shape CCCCVCCCV
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "schlüpfen" and "schlüpfte" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "schlüpfen" or "schlüpfte"?
Remembering schlüpfen vs schlüpfte
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 “schlüpfen” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable