Which to use
“código” is a noun and “colgó” is a verb - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #935
- “código” frequency rank
- #18,768
- “colgó” frequency rank
- 19703
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | código | colgó |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | En la teoría de la comunicación, es el conjunto de rasgos que tiene el mensaje para que pueda ser entendido por el emisor y el receptor. | Tercera persona del singular (él, ella, ello; usted, 2.ª persona) del pretérito perfecto simple de indicativo de colgar o de colgarse. |
Where the eye mixes código and colgó
Muted = shared; highlighted = the visual trap. They share 2 letters in sequence.
Why the eye confuses código with colgó
These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: código is [ˈkoð̞iɣ̞o] while colgó is [kolˈɣ̞o]. 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 (noun vs verb), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 19703, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
código is recorded at frequency rank #935, classified as anoun, pronounced [ˈkoð̞iɣ̞o]. colgó is at rank #18,768, tagged as averb, pronounced [kolˈɣ̞o].
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 19703, this pair ranks #262,555 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of código vs colgó
Shared letters: cgoó. Private to "código": di. Private to "colgó": l.
"código" · 6 letters · shape CVCVCV · "colgó" · 5 letters · shape CVCCV
Frequently Asked Questions
Is swapping "código" for "colgó" ever safe?
Which is more common, "código" or "colgó"?
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 "código" with definition, IPA, and generated misspellings. Word entry
- Full dictionary entry for "colgó" - compare definitions side by side with the headword page. Word entry
- This pair ranks #262,555 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs in this corpus vintage. Corpus statistics
- "código" and "colgó" also get mixed up with nearby pairs, the highest-scored neighbour is "colgó vs coo". Nearby pair
Confusion rank #262,555 of 323,831 scored Spanish pairs, corpus vintage 2026-09-03, not spelling advice.