Which to use
“deux” is a num and “du” is a pronoun - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #46,494
- “deux” frequency rank
- #5,609
- “du” frequency rank
- 52103
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | deux | du |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Dos. | Tú (pronombre de segunda persona singular familiar o informal) |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set deux and du apart are highlighted. They share 2 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: deux is /dø/ while du is [duː]. Spoken aloud the problem disappears. In writing it persists, because they differ by 2 letter(s) in length, and the parts of speech differ too (num vs pronoun), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 52103, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
deux is recorded at frequency rank #46,494, classified as anum, pronounced /dø/. du is at rank #5,609, tagged as apron, pronounced [duː].
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 52103, this pair ranks #94,374 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of deux vs du
Shared letters: du. Private to "deux": ex. Private to "du": -.
"deux" · 4 letters · shape CVVC · "du" · 2 letters · shape CV
Known mistypes of this pair
- deux ← ddeux · deuxx · dexu · duex · edux
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "deux" and "du" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "deux" or "du"?
Remembering deux vs du
The fastest way to pick the right one every time.
- Check the role first: if you need a num, it's “deux”; for a pronoun, it's “du”.
- See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “deux” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable