Which to use
“zurückgeben” and “zurücklegen” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #12,008
- “zurückgeben” frequency rank
- #21,137
- “zurücklegen” frequency rank
- 33145
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | zurückgeben | zurücklegen |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | einen Gegenstand wieder in den Besitz der Person geben, die den Gegenstand zuvor hatte, beziehungsweise wieder in den Besitz des Eigentümers geben | eine Strecke bewältigen, durchmessen |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set zurückgeben and zurücklegen apart are highlighted. They share 9 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. zurückgeben ([t͡suˈʁʏkˌɡeːbn̩]) and zurücklegen ([t͡suˈʁʏkˌleːɡn̩]) 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 33145, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
zurückgeben is recorded at frequency rank #12,008, classified as averb, pronounced [t͡suˈʁʏkˌɡeːbn̩]. zurücklegen is at rank #21,137, tagged as averb, pronounced [t͡suˈʁʏkˌleːɡn̩].
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 33145, this pair ranks #1,692,302 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of zurückgeben vs zurücklegen
Shared letters: cegknruzü. Private to "zurückgeben": b. Private to "zurücklegen": l.
"zurückgeben" · 11 letters · shape CVCVCCCVCVC · "zurücklegen" · 11 letters · shape CVCVCCCVCVC
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "zurückgeben" and "zurücklegen" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "zurückgeben" or "zurücklegen"?
Remembering zurückgeben vs zurücklegen
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 “zurückgeben” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable