compartirvscompetirWhat's the difference?

Which to use

“compartir” and “competir” are a confusable Spanish pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.

#1,403
“compartir” frequency rank
#4,585
“competir” frequency rank
5988
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature compartir competir
Definition Dividir algo y repartirlo. Dicho de un ser animado, esforzarse por lograr una cierta ventaja o premio contra otros rivales.

Where the spellings diverge

Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set compartir and competir apart are highlighted. They share 7 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.

9 ch
compartir
8 ch
competir

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

compartir and competir 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 5988, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

compartir is recorded at frequency rank #1,403, classified as averb, pronounced [kõmpaɾˈt̪iɾ]. competir is at rank #4,585, tagged as averb, pronounced [kõmpeˈt̪iɾ].

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 5988, this pair ranks #312,095 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.

Frequency comparison

compartir#1,403
competir#4,585

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list

Frequently Asked Questions

Can "compartir" and "competir" be used interchangeably?
No, "compartir" and "competir" have distinct meanings and cannot be swapped without changing the meaning of a sentence. Understanding the specific definition and context for each word is essential for correct usage.

Remembering compartir vs competir

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 “compartir” entry
  • Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable

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

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