cadena

[kaˈð̞ena]

/[kaˈð̞ena]/ noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

The verdict

“cadena” is a regularly-used Spanish word, ranked #1,539 in Spanish word frequency and used as a noun.

#1,539
frequency rank, Spanish
6
letters
8
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Serie de objetos entrelazados uno después de otro, especialmente eslabones metálicos.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

cadena vs cena
67% similar
cadena vs Caen
50% similar
cadena vs caña
50% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for cadena
PropertyValue
Headwordcadena
LanguageSpanish
Part of speechNoun
IPA[kaˈð̞ena]
Letters6
Frequency rank#1,539
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “cadena” sits in Spanish frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). cadena lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The Spanish entry for cadena is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [kaˈð̞ena]. Corpus data places it at rank #1,539 in overall Spanish word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 18 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for cadena, with forms such as "acdena", "caddena", and "cadean". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "cena", "Caen", "caña", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

No documented word history exists for this headword, so its spelling pattern is best understood through pronunciation rather than a traceable origin. The correct Spanish form is cadena, spelled C-A-D-E-N-A.

Definition

  1. 1
    Serie de objetos entrelazados uno después de otro, especialmente eslabones metálicos.
  2. 2
    Objeto circular formado por eslabones entrelazados.
  3. 3
    Sucesión de hechos o fenómenos relacionados entre sí.
  4. 4
    Grupo de personas tomadas de las manos.
  5. 5
    Lazo inmaterial que une a las personas.
  6. 6
    Atadura o fuerza que oprime. :*Sinónimo: opresión
  7. 7
    conjunto de máquinas e instalaciones que hacen pasar el trabajo de una a otra.
  8. 8
    Conjunto de empresas del mismo rubro que tienen un mismo propietario.
  9. 9
    Emisión radial o televisiva conjunta de un mismo programa.
  10. 10
    Equipo musical compuesto de módulos independientes que pueden ser reunidos en un solo conjunto.
  11. 11
    Sucesión de montañas.
  12. 12
    Cierre de puertos o dársenas por medio de perchas o masteleros unidos por cadenas.
  13. 13
    Emisora de televisión.
  14. 14
    Grupo de galeotes encadenados entre sí.
  15. 15
    Átomos que unidos de forma más o menos linear o circular forman una molécula.
  16. 16
    Conjunto de elementos del mismo tipo en disposición lineal.
  17. 17
    En plural designa al conjunto de cadenas y elementos que estabilizan las ruedas de un automóvil en terreno nevado o escarchado.
  18. 18
    Pilar de cemento o sillería que refuerza los muros de ladrillos y otros.

Synonyms

cadena de montajecadena musicalcadena de sonidocadena montañosacanalmachón

This word in other languages

chain(English)chaîne(Français)cadeia(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: acdena,caddena,cadean,cadenna,cadnea,caedna,ccadena,cdaena

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of cadena - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

acdena2caddena1cadean2cadenna1cadnea2caedna2ccadena1cdaena2
Edit distance from "cadena"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 Spanish corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "cadena"?
"cadena" is spelled C-A-D-E-N-A. The IPA pronunciation is [kaˈð̞ena].
What does "cadena" mean?
As a noun, "cadena" means: Serie de objetos entrelazados uno después de otro, especialmente eslabones metálicos.
What words are commonly confused with "cadena"?
"cadena" is commonly confused with "cena", "Caen", "caña". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "cadena"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "cadena" is [kaˈð̞ena]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "cadena" come from?
"cadena" is a Spanish word. PlainSpell's reference spans five languages -- English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German -- with definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data for each.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “cadena”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct Spanish spelling is C-A-D-E-N-A - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [kaˈð̞ena] (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “cena” - see the side-by-side comparison. cadena vs cena
  • Browse more Spanish words and confusable pairs in the same reference. Spanish words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list