Which to use
“zurückgeben” and “zurückzugeben” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #12,008
- “zurückgeben” frequency rank
- #23,386
- “zurückzugeben” frequency rank
- 35394
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | zurückgeben | zurückzugeben |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | einen Gegenstand wieder in den Besitz der Person geben, die den Gegenstand zuvor hatte, beziehungsweise wieder in den Besitz des Eigentümers geben | erweiterter Infinitiv Aktiv des Verbs zurückgeben |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set zurückgeben and zurückzugeben apart are highlighted. They share 11 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. zurückgeben ([t͡suˈʁʏkˌɡeːbn̩]) and zurückzugeben ([t͡suˈʁʏkt͡suˌɡeːbn̩]) are said differently, so reading them aloud is the quickest way to catch the wrong one. On the page they stay close: they differ by 2 letter(s) in length. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 35394, 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]. zurückzugeben is at rank #23,386, tagged as averb, pronounced [t͡suˈʁʏkt͡suˌɡeːbn̩].
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 35394, this pair ranks #1,641,080 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of zurückgeben vs zurückzugeben
Shared letters: bcegknruzü. Private to "zurückgeben": -. Private to "zurückzugeben": -.
"zurückgeben" · 11 letters · shape CVCVCCCVCVC · "zurückzugeben" · 13 letters · shape CVCVCCCVCVCVC
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "zurückgeben" and "zurückzugeben" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "zurückgeben" or "zurückzugeben"?
Remembering zurückgeben vs zurückzugeben
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