Which to use
“zurückzuhalten” and “zurückzuholen” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #42,972
- “zurückzuhalten” frequency rank
- #36,142
- “zurückzuholen” frequency rank
- 79114
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | zurückzuhalten | zurückzuholen |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | erweiterter Infinitiv Aktiv des Verbs zurückhalten | erweiterter Infinitiv Aktiv des Verbs zurückholen |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set zurückzuhalten and zurückzuholen 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. zurückzuhalten ([t͡suˈʁʏkt͡suˌhaltn̩]) and zurückzuholen ([t͡suˈʁʏkt͡suˌhoːlən]) 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 1 letter(s) in length. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 79114, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
zurückzuhalten is recorded at frequency rank #42,972, classified as averb, pronounced [t͡suˈʁʏkt͡suˌhaltn̩]. zurückzuholen is at rank #36,142, tagged as averb, pronounced [t͡suˈʁʏkt͡suˌhoːlən].
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 79114, this pair ranks #223,548 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - among the most confusable pairs.
Orthographic DNA of zurückzuhalten vs zurückzuholen
Shared letters: cehklnruzü. Private to "zurückzuhalten": at. Private to "zurückzuholen": o.
"zurückzuhalten" · 14 letters · shape CVCVCCCVCVCCVC · "zurückzuholen" · 13 letters · shape CVCVCCCVCVCVC
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "zurückzuhalten" and "zurückzuholen" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "zurückzuhalten" or "zurückzuholen"?
Remembering zurückzuhalten vs zurückzuholen
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 “zurückzuhalten” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable