Which to use
“abre” and “abrir” are a confusable Spanish pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #2,099
- “abre” frequency rank
- #1,464
- “abrir” frequency rank
- 3563
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | abre | abrir |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Tercera persona del singular (él, ella, ello; usted, 2.ª persona) del presente de indicativo de abrir o de abrirse. | Remover la tapa o la cubierta de algo, haciéndolo visible. |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set abre and abrir apart are highlighted. They share 3 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
abre and abrir form a confusable pair in the Spanish index, two distinct headwords that are easily confused because they look alike, sound alike, or both. They differ by 1 letter(s) in length - close enough that the eye skips over the difference, far enough that meaning fully diverges. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 3563, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
abre is recorded at frequency rank #2,099, classified as averb, pronounced [ˈaβ̞ɾe]. abrir is at rank #1,464, tagged as averb, pronounced [aˈβ̞ɾiɾ].
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 3563, this pair ranks #318,041 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "abre" and "abrir" be used interchangeably?
Remembering abre vs abrir
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 “abre” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable