Which to use
“catar” is a verb and “cate” is a noun - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #33,482
- “catar” frequency rank
- #38,559
- “cate” frequency rank
- 72041
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | catar | cate |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Probar algo con el sentido del gusto, especialmente los alimentos. | Suspenso de un test, examen o asignatura. |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set catar and cate apart are highlighted. They share 3 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: catar is [kaˈt̪aɾ] while cate is [ˈkat̪e]. Spoken aloud the problem disappears. In writing it persists, because they differ by 1 letter(s) in length, and the parts of speech differ too (verb vs noun), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 72041, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
catar is recorded at frequency rank #33,482, classified as averb, pronounced [kaˈt̪aɾ]. cate is at rank #38,559, tagged as anoun, pronounced [ˈkat̪e].
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 72041, this pair ranks #26,212 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - among the most confusable pairs.
Orthographic DNA of catar vs cate
Shared letters: act. Private to "catar": r. Private to "cate": e.
"catar" · 5 letters · shape CVCVC · "cate" · 4 letters · shape CVCV
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "catar" and "cate" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "catar" or "cate"?
Remembering catar vs cate
The fastest way to pick the right one every time.
- Check the role first: if you need a verb, it's “catar”; for a noun, it's “cate”.
- See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “catar” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable