Which to use
“recite” and “reside” are a confusable English pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #20,200
- “recite” frequency rank
- #11,781
- “reside” frequency rank
- 31981
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | recite | reside |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | To repeat aloud (some passage, poem or other text previously memorized, or in front of one's eyes), often before an audience. | To dwell permanently or for a considerable time; to have a settled abode for a time; to remain for a long time. |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set recite and reside apart are highlighted. They share 4 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. recite (/ɹɪˈsaɪt/) and reside (/ɹɪˈzaɪd/) 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 31981, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
recite is recorded at frequency rank #20,200, classified as averb, pronounced /ɹɪˈsaɪt/. reside is at rank #11,781, tagged as averb, pronounced /ɹɪˈzaɪd/.
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 31981, this pair ranks #341,586 of 530,003 scored English confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of recite vs reside
Shared letters: eir. Private to "recite": ct. Private to "reside": ds.
"recite" · 6 letters · shape CVCVCV · "reside" · 6 letters · shape CVCVCV
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "recite" and "reside" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "recite" or "reside"?
Remembering recite vs reside
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 “recite” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable