Which to use
“emplear” and “empujar” are a confusable Spanish pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #8,653
- “emplear” frequency rank
- #14,129
- “empujar” frequency rank
- 22782
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | emplear | empujar |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Ocupar a uno encargándole algún negocio o puesto. | Aplicar una fuerza para mover o detener algo o a alguien. |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set emplear and empujar apart are highlighted. They share 5 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. emplear ([ẽmpleˈaɾ]) and empujar ([ẽmpuˈxaɾ]) 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 22782, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
emplear is recorded at frequency rank #8,653, classified as averb, pronounced [ẽmpleˈaɾ]. empujar is at rank #14,129, tagged as averb, pronounced [ẽmpuˈxaɾ].
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 22782, this pair ranks #248,760 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of emplear vs empujar
Shared letters: aempr. Private to "emplear": l. Private to "empujar": ju.
"emplear" · 7 letters · shape VCCCVVC · "empujar" · 7 letters · shape VCCVCVC
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "emplear" and "empujar" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "emplear" or "empujar"?
Remembering emplear vs empujar
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 “emplear” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable