Which to use
“decí” is a verb and “der” is an article - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #42,935
- “decí” frequency rank
- #6,897
- “der” frequency rank
- 49832
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | decí | der |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Segunda persona del singular (vos) del imperativo afirmativo de decir. | El. |
Where the eye mixes decí and der
Muted = shared; highlighted = the visual trap. They share 2 letters in sequence. decí runs 4 letters (CVCV) against der's 3 (CVC) - the length gap alone is often enough to separate them once you know to check it.
Look-alike desk: decí vs der
These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: decí is [d̪eˈsi] while der is [de:ɐ]. 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 (verb vs article), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 49832, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
decí is recorded at frequency rank #42,935, classified as averb, pronounced [d̪eˈsi]. der is at rank #6,897, tagged as anarticle, pronounced [de:ɐ].
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 49832, this pair ranks #106,605 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of decí vs der
Shared letters: de. Private to "decí": cí. Private to "der": r.
"decí" · 4 letters · shape CVCV · "der" · 3 letters · shape CVC
Frequently Asked Questions
Is swapping "decí" for "der" ever safe?
Which is more common, "decí" or "der"?
What to do next
Visual near-miss handled. Browse the word pages or a neighbour when the next look-alike shows up.
- Full dictionary entry for "decí" with definition, IPA, and generated misspellings. Word entry
- Full dictionary entry for "der" - compare definitions side by side with the headword page. Word entry
- This pair ranks #106,605 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs in this corpus vintage. Corpus statistics
- "decí" and "der" also get mixed up with nearby pairs, the highest-scored neighbour is "decí vs Deva". Nearby pair
Confusion rank #106,605 of 323,831 scored Spanish pairs, corpus vintage 2026-09-03, not spelling advice.