Which to use
“debas” and “decías” are a confusable Spanish pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #29,580
- “debas” frequency rank
- #15,066
- “decías” frequency rank
- 44646
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | debas | decías |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Segunda persona del singular (tú) del presente de subjuntivo de deber. | Segunda persona del singular (tú, vos) del pretérito imperfecto de indicativo de decir. |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set debas and decías apart are highlighted. They share 4 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. debas ([ˈd̪eβ̞as]) and decías ([d̪eˈsias]) are said differently, so reading them aloud is the quickest way to catch the wrong one. On the page they stay close: they differ by 1 letter(s) in length. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 44646, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
debas is recorded at frequency rank #29,580, classified as averb, pronounced [ˈd̪eβ̞as]. decías is at rank #15,066, tagged as averb, pronounced [d̪eˈsias].
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 44646, this pair ranks #135,905 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of debas vs decías
Shared letters: ades. Private to "debas": b. Private to "decías": cí.
"debas" · 5 letters · shape CVCVC · "decías" · 6 letters · shape CVCVVC
Known mistypes of this pair
- debas ← dbeas · ddebas · deabs · debass · debbas · debsa · devas · edbas
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "debas" and "decías" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "debas" or "decías"?
Remembering debas vs decías
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 “debas” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable