Which to use
“zurückgreifen” and “zurückzugreifen” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #10,981
- “zurückgreifen” frequency rank
- #45,069
- “zurückzugreifen” frequency rank
- 56050
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | zurückgreifen | zurückzugreifen |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | etwas oder jemanden, der/das verfügbar ist, nutzen | erweiterter Infinitiv Aktiv des Verbs zurückgreifen |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set zurückgreifen and zurückzugreifen apart are highlighted. They share 13 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. zurückgreifen ([t͡suˈʁʏkˌɡʁaɪ̯fn̩]) and zurückzugreifen ([t͡suˈʁʏkt͡suˌɡʁaɪ̯fn̩]) 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 56050, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
zurückgreifen is recorded at frequency rank #10,981, classified as averb, pronounced [t͡suˈʁʏkˌɡʁaɪ̯fn̩]. zurückzugreifen is at rank #45,069, tagged as averb, pronounced [t͡suˈʁʏkt͡suˌɡʁaɪ̯fn̩].
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 56050, this pair ranks #955,563 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of zurückgreifen vs zurückzugreifen
Shared letters: cefgiknruzü. Private to "zurückgreifen": -. Private to "zurückzugreifen": -.
"zurückgreifen" · 13 letters · shape CVCVCCCCVVCVC · "zurückzugreifen" · 15 letters · shape CVCVCCCVCCVVCVC
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "zurückgreifen" and "zurückzugreifen" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "zurückgreifen" or "zurückzugreifen"?
Remembering zurückgreifen vs zurückzugreifen
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 “zurückgreifen” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable