Which to use
“wackeln” is a verb and “wacker” is an adjective - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #24,192
- “wackeln” frequency rank
- #15,520
- “wacker” frequency rank
- 39712
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | wackeln | wacker |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | sich hin und her neigen | tüchtig und mutig, Einsatz zeigend |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set wackeln and wacker apart are highlighted. They share 5 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: wackeln is [ˈvakl̩n] while wacker is [ˈvakɐ]. Spoken aloud the problem disappears. In writing it persists, because they differ by 1 letter(s) in length, and the parts of speech differ too (verb vs adjective), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 39712, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
wackeln is recorded at frequency rank #24,192, classified as averb, pronounced [ˈvakl̩n]. wacker is at rank #15,520, tagged as anadj, pronounced [ˈvakɐ].
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 39712, this pair ranks #1,529,078 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of wackeln vs wacker
Shared letters: acekw. Private to "wackeln": ln. Private to "wacker": r.
"wackeln" · 7 letters · shape CVCCVCC · "wacker" · 6 letters · shape CVCCVC
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "wackeln" and "wacker" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "wackeln" or "wacker"?
Remembering wackeln vs wacker
The fastest way to pick the right one every time.
- Check the role first: if you need a verb, it's “wackeln”; for an adjective, it's “wacker”.
- See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “wackeln” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable