Which to use
“zurücknehmen” and “zurückzunehmen” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #23,803
- “zurücknehmen” frequency rank
- #36,143
- “zurückzunehmen” frequency rank
- 59946
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | zurücknehmen | zurückzunehmen |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | etwas wieder annehmen, was man schon einmal hatte, wieder in Besitz nehmen | erweiterter Infinitiv Aktiv des Verbs zurücknehmen |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set zurücknehmen and zurückzunehmen apart are highlighted. They share 12 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. zurücknehmen ([t͡suˈʁʏkˌneːmən]) and zurückzunehmen ([t͡suˈʁʏkt͡suˌneːmən]) 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 59946, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
zurücknehmen is recorded at frequency rank #23,803, classified as averb, pronounced [t͡suˈʁʏkˌneːmən]. zurückzunehmen is at rank #36,143, tagged as averb, pronounced [t͡suˈʁʏkt͡suˌneːmən].
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 59946, this pair ranks #805,436 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of zurücknehmen vs zurückzunehmen
Shared letters: cehkmnruzü. Private to "zurücknehmen": -. Private to "zurückzunehmen": -.
"zurücknehmen" · 12 letters · shape CVCVCCCVCCVC · "zurückzunehmen" · 14 letters · shape CVCVCCCVCVCCVC
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "zurücknehmen" and "zurückzunehmen" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "zurücknehmen" or "zurückzunehmen"?
Remembering zurücknehmen vs zurückzunehmen
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 “zurücknehmen” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable