Which to use
“stehlen” is a verb and “Stelen” is a noun - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #9,810
- “stehlen” frequency rank
- #46,297
- “Stelen” frequency rank
- 56107
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | stehlen | Stelen |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | etwas aus dem Besitz eines anderen ohne dessen Einverständnis wegnehmen; einen Diebstahl begehen | Nominativ Plural des Substantivs Stele |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set stehlen and Stelen apart are highlighted. They share 6 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
Say them out loud and nothing separates them: stehlen and Stelen carry the same recorded pronunciation, [ˈʃteːlən]. Grammar is what tells them apart: one is averb, the other anoun, so most sentences will only accept one of them. They differ by 1 letter(s) in length. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 56107, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
stehlen is recorded at frequency rank #9,810, classified as averb, pronounced [ˈʃteːlən]. Stelen is at rank #46,297, tagged as anoun, pronounced [ˈʃteːlən].
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 56107, this pair ranks #953,228 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of stehlen vs Stelen
Shared letters: elnst. Private to "stehlen": h. Private to "Stelen": -.
"stehlen" · 7 letters · shape CCVCCVC · "Stelen" · 6 letters · shape CCVCVC
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "stehlen" and "Stelen" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "stehlen" or "Stelen"?
Remembering stehlen vs Stelen
The fastest way to pick the right one every time.
- Check the role first: if you need a verb, it's “stehlen”; for a noun, it's “Stelen”.
- See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “stehlen” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable