Which to use
“setzen” and “seufzen” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #692
- “setzen” frequency rank
- #37,776
- “seufzen” frequency rank
- 38468
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | setzen | seufzen |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | jemanden oder etwas in eine sitzende Position bringen | hörbar und heftig ein- und ausatmen, als Zeichen starker Gefühle wie Kummer, Erleichterung oder Resignation |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set setzen and seufzen 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. setzen ([ˈzɛt͡sn̩]) and seufzen ([ˈzɔɪ̯ft͡sn̩]) 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 1 letter(s) in length. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 38468, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
setzen is recorded at frequency rank #692, classified as averb, pronounced [ˈzɛt͡sn̩]. seufzen is at rank #37,776, tagged as averb, pronounced [ˈzɔɪ̯ft͡sn̩].
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 38468, this pair ranks #1,563,196 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of setzen vs seufzen
Shared letters: ensz. Private to "setzen": t. Private to "seufzen": fu.
"setzen" · 6 letters · shape CVCCVC · "seufzen" · 7 letters · shape CVVCCVC
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "setzen" and "seufzen" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "setzen" or "seufzen"?
Remembering setzen vs seufzen
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 “setzen” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable