Which to use
“Schmalz” and “Schmelz” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #31,778
- “Schmalz” frequency rank
- #36,613
- “Schmelz” frequency rank
- 68391
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Schmalz | Schmelz |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | streichfähiges, ausgelassenes tierisches Fett (besonders von Schweinen und Gänsen; früher auch von Hühnern und Hunden) | Glasur auf der Oberfläche |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set Schmalz and Schmelz apart are highlighted. They share 6 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. Schmalz ([ʃmalt͡s]) and Schmelz ([ʃmɛlt͡s]) are said differently, so reading them aloud is the quickest way to catch the wrong one. On the page they stay close: they differ by a single letter - a in “Schmalz” becomes e in “Schmelz”. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 68391, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
Schmalz is recorded at frequency rank #31,778, classified as anoun, pronounced [ʃmalt͡s]. Schmelz is at rank #36,613, tagged as anoun, pronounced [ʃmɛlt͡s].
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 68391, this pair ranks #509,294 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - among the most confusable pairs.
Orthographic DNA of Schmalz vs Schmelz
Shared letters: chlmsz. Private to "Schmalz": a. Private to "Schmelz": e.
"Schmalz" · 7 letters · shape CCCCVCC · "Schmelz" · 7 letters · shape CCCCVCC
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "Schmalz" and "Schmelz" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "Schmalz" or "Schmelz"?
Remembering Schmalz vs Schmelz
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 “Schmalz” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable