Which to use
“débil” is an adjective and “decí” is a verb - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #3,397
- “débil” frequency rank
- #42,935
- “decí” frequency rank
- 46332
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | débil | decí |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | De poca fortaleza, que carece de fuerza física. | Segunda persona del singular (vos) del imperativo afirmativo de decir. |
Where the eye mixes débil and decí
Muted = shared; highlighted = the visual trap. They share 1 letter in sequence.
Look-alike desk: débil vs decí
These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: débil is [ˈd̪eβ̞il] while decí is [d̪eˈsi]. 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 (adjective vs verb), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 46332, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
débil is recorded at frequency rank #3,397, classified as anadj, pronounced [ˈd̪eβ̞il]. decí is at rank #42,935, tagged as averb, pronounced [d̪eˈsi].
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 46332, this pair ranks #126,348 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of débil vs decí
Shared letters: d. Private to "débil": bilé. Private to "decí": ceí.
"débil" · 5 letters · shape CVCVC · "decí" · 4 letters · shape CVCV
Frequently Asked Questions
Is swapping "débil" for "decí" ever safe?
Frequency check: "débil" vs "decí" - which ranks higher?
What to do next
Pronunciation already separates them, if the page still looks alike, the dictionary links below settle it.
- Full dictionary entry for "débil" with definition, IPA, and generated misspellings. Word entry
- Full dictionary entry for "decí" - compare definitions side by side with the headword page. Word entry
- This pair ranks #126,348 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs in this corpus vintage. Corpus statistics
- "débil" and "decí" also get mixed up with nearby pairs, the highest-scored neighbour is "decí vs Deva". Nearby pair
Confusion rank #126,348 of 323,831 scored Spanish pairs, corpus vintage 2026-09-03, not spelling advice.