controlabavscontrolarWhat's the difference?

Which to use

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

#25,196
“controlaba” frequency rank
#2,202
“controlar” frequency rank
27398
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature controlaba controlar
Definition Primera persona del singular (yo) del pretérito imperfecto de indicativo de controlar o de controlarse. Tener el control sobre algo o alguien, ejercer el dominio sobre algo o alguien.

Where the spellings diverge

Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set controlaba and controlar apart are highlighted. They share 8 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.

10 ch
controlaba
9 ch
controlar

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

controlaba and controlar 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 27398, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

controlaba is recorded at frequency rank #25,196, classified as averb, pronounced [kõn̪t̪ɾoˈlaβ̞a]. controlar is at rank #2,202, tagged as averb, pronounced [kõn̪t̪ɾoˈlaɾ].

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 27398, this pair ranks #227,008 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.

Frequency comparison

controlaba#25,196
controlar#2,202

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list

Frequently Asked Questions

Can "controlaba" and "controlar" be used interchangeably?
No, "controlaba" and "controlar" 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 controlaba vs controlar

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 “controlaba” 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