Which to use
“übel” is an adjective and “Übels” is a noun - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #3,225
- “übel” frequency rank
- #39,750
- “Übels” frequency rank
- 42975
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | übel | Übels |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | schlecht, krank, unwohl (seiend) | Genitiv Singular des Substantivs Übel |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set übel and Übels apart are highlighted. They share 4 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: übel is [ˈyːbl̩] while Übels is [ˈyːbl̩s]. Spoken aloud the problem disappears. In writing it persists, because they differ by 1 extra letter(s) - “übel” sits inside “Übels”, and the parts of speech differ too (adjective vs noun), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 42975, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
übel is recorded at frequency rank #3,225, classified as anadj, pronounced [ˈyːbl̩]. Übels is at rank #39,750, tagged as anoun, pronounced [ˈyːbl̩s].
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 42975, this pair ranks #1,432,511 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of übel vs Übels
Shared letters: belü. Private to "übel": -. Private to "Übels": s.
"übel" · 4 letters · shape VCVC · "Übels" · 5 letters · shape VCVCC
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "übel" and "Übels" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "übel" or "Übels"?
Remembering übel vs Übels
The fastest way to pick the right one every time.
- Check the role first: if you need an adjective, it's “übel”; for a noun, it's “Übels”.
- See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “übel” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable