definanvsdefinirWhat's the difference?

Which to use

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

#44,097
“definan” frequency rank
#4,152
“definir” frequency rank
48249
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature definan definir
Definition Tercera persona del plural (ellos, ellas; ustedes, 2.ª persona) del presente de subjuntivo de definir o de definirse. Formular con claridad y exactitud el significado de algo.

Where the spellings diverge

Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set definan and definir apart are highlighted. They share 5 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.

7 ch
definan
7 ch
definir

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

A purely visual mix-up. definan ([d̪eˈfinãn]) and definir ([d̪efiˈniɾ]) are said differently, so reading them aloud is the quickest way to catch the wrong one. On the page they stay close: they share most of their letters but differ in 2 positions. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 48249, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

definan is recorded at frequency rank #44,097, classified as averb, pronounced [d̪eˈfinãn]. definir is at rank #4,152, tagged as averb, pronounced [d̪efiˈniɾ].

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 48249, this pair ranks #115,507 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.

Orthographic DNA of definan vs definir

Shared letters: defin. Private to "definan": a. Private to "definir": r.

"definan" · 7 letters · shape CVCVCVC  ·  "definir" · 7 letters · shape CVCVCVC

Known mistypes of this pair

  • definanddefinan · deffinan · defiann · definann · definnan · defnian · deifnan · dfeinan
  • definirddefinir · deffinir · defiinr · definirr · definnir · definri · defniir · deifnir

Frequency comparison

definan#44,097
definir#4,152

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list

Frequently Asked Questions

Can "definan" and "definir" be used interchangeably?
No. They are said differently ([d̪eˈfinãn] versus [d̪efiˈniɾ]) and carry different meanings; reading the sentence aloud is usually enough to catch the wrong one.
Which is more common, "definan" or "definir"?
"definir" is the more common of the two: it sits at frequency rank #4,152 in our Spanish list, against #44,097 for "definan". That is a wide gap, so in ordinary text the rarer spelling is the one worth double-checking.

Remembering definan vs definir

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 “definan” 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