Which to use
“desempeñar” and “desempeñarse” are a confusable Spanish pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #12,582
- “desempeñar” frequency rank
- #37,026
- “desempeñarse” frequency rank
- 49608
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | desempeñar | desempeñarse |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Recuperar algo previamente empeñado (dejado como garantía de un préstamo), eliminando la deuda antes contraída. | Realizar las tareas encomendadas o las que corresponden al cargo o función. |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set desempeñar and desempeñarse apart are highlighted. They share 10 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. desempeñar ([d̪esẽmpeˈɲaɾ]) and desempeñarse ([d̪esẽmpeˈɲaɾse]) 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 2 extra letter(s) - “desempeñar” sits inside “desempeñarse”. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 49608, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
desempeñar is recorded at frequency rank #12,582, classified as averb, pronounced [d̪esẽmpeˈɲaɾ]. desempeñarse is at rank #37,026, tagged as averb, pronounced [d̪esẽmpeˈɲaɾse].
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 49608, this pair ranks #107,864 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of desempeñar vs desempeñarse
Shared letters: ademprsñ. Private to "desempeñar": -. Private to "desempeñarse": -.
"desempeñar" · 10 letters · shape CVCVCCVCVC · "desempeñarse" · 12 letters · shape CVCVCCVCVCCV
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "desempeñar" and "desempeñarse" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "desempeñar" or "desempeñarse"?
Remembering desempeñar vs desempeñarse
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 “desempeñar” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable