Which to use
“Schlüssel” is a noun and “schlüssig” is an adjective - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #3,149
- “Schlüssel” frequency rank
- #25,752
- “schlüssig” frequency rank
- 28901
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Schlüssel | schlüssig |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Gegenstand zum Schließen und Öffnen eines Schlosses | logisch und überzeugend, folgerichtig (eine Argumentation, ein Beweis) |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set Schlüssel and schlüssig apart are highlighted. They share 7 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: Schlüssel is [ˈʃlʏsl̩] while schlüssig is [ˈʃlʏsɪç]. Spoken aloud the problem disappears. In writing it persists, because they share most of their letters but differ in 2 positions, and the parts of speech differ too (noun vs adjective), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 28901, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
Schlüssel is recorded at frequency rank #3,149, classified as anoun, pronounced [ˈʃlʏsl̩]. schlüssig is at rank #25,752, tagged as anadj, pronounced [ˈʃlʏsɪç].
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 28901, this pair ranks #1,776,551 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of Schlüssel vs schlüssig
Shared letters: chlsü. Private to "Schlüssel": e. Private to "schlüssig": gi.
"Schlüssel" · 9 letters · shape CCCCVCCVC · "schlüssig" · 9 letters · shape CCCCVCCVC
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "Schlüssel" and "schlüssig" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "Schlüssel" or "schlüssig"?
Remembering Schlüssel vs schlüssig
The fastest way to pick the right one every time.
- Check the role first: if you need a noun, it's “Schlüssel”; for an adjective, it's “schlüssig”.
- See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “Schlüssel” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable