Which to use
“alas” is a noun and “algo” is a pronoun - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #3,666
- “alas” frequency rank
- #74
- “algo” frequency rank
- 3740
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | alas | algo |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Forma del plural de ala. | Designa una cantidad pequeña no precisada. |
Where the eye mixes alas and algo
Muted = shared; highlighted = the visual trap. They share 2 letters in sequence.
Why the eye confuses alas with algo
These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: alas is [ˈalas] while algo is [ˈalɣ̞o]. Spoken aloud the problem disappears. In writing it persists, because they share most of their letters but differ in 2 positions, and the parts of speech differ too (noun vs pronoun), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 3740, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
alas is recorded at frequency rank #3,666, classified as anoun, pronounced [ˈalas]. algo is at rank #74, tagged as apron, pronounced [ˈalɣ̞o].
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 3740, this pair ranks #317,666 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of alas vs algo
Shared letters: al. Private to "alas": s. Private to "algo": go.
"alas" · 4 letters · shape VCVC · "algo" · 4 letters · shape VCCV
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequently Asked Questions
Is swapping "alas" for "algo" ever safe?
In ordinary Spanish text, does "alas" or "algo" show up more?
Useful next steps
Visual near-miss handled. Browse the word pages or a neighbour when the next look-alike shows up.
- Full dictionary entry for "alas" with definition, IPA, and generated misspellings. Word entry
- Full dictionary entry for "algo" - compare definitions side by side with the headword page. Word entry
- This pair ranks #317,666 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs in this corpus vintage. Corpus statistics
- "alas" and "algo" also get mixed up with nearby pairs, the highest-scored neighbour is "alas vs apis". Nearby pair
- Recorded mistypes exist for at least one side of this pair, useful when a spell-checker or OCR lands on the wrong form. See mistypes
Confusion rank #317,666 of 323,831 scored Spanish pairs, corpus vintage 2026-09-03, not spelling advice.