Which to use
“wirklich” and “wörtlich” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #169
- “wirklich” frequency rank
- #8,492
- “wörtlich” frequency rank
- 8661
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | wirklich | wörtlich |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | tatsächlich existierend und nicht nur in der Einbildung vorhanden seiend | im genauen Wortlaut |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set wirklich and wörtlich 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. wirklich ([ˈvɪʁklɪç]) and wörtlich ([ˈvœʁtlɪç]) are said differently, so reading them aloud is the quickest way to catch the wrong one. On the page they stay close: they share most of their letters but differ in 2 positions. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 8661, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
wirklich is recorded at frequency rank #169, classified as anadj, pronounced [ˈvɪʁklɪç]. wörtlich is at rank #8,492, tagged as anadj, pronounced [ˈvœʁtlɪç].
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 8661, this pair ranks #1,983,383 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of wirklich vs wörtlich
Shared letters: chilrw. Private to "wirklich": k. Private to "wörtlich": tö.
"wirklich" · 8 letters · shape CVCCCVCC · "wörtlich" · 8 letters · shape CVCCCVCC
Known mistypes of this pair
- wirklich ← iwrklich · wikrlich · wirkilch · wirkklich · wirklcih · wirklicch · wirklichh · wirklihc
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "wirklich" and "wörtlich" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "wirklich" or "wörtlich"?
Remembering wirklich vs wörtlich
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 “wirklich” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable