externasvsexternoWhat's the difference?

Quick tell: externas is a verb, externo is an adjective, so they fill different roles in a sentence.

Which to use

“externas” is a verb and “externo” is an adjective - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.

#8,953
“externas” frequency rank
#6,672
“externo” frequency rank
15625
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature externas externo
Definition Segunda persona del singular (tú) del presente de indicativo de externar. Que se encuentra o tiene lugar en el exterior

Where the spellings diverge

Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set externas and externo apart are highlighted. They share 6 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.

8 ch
externas
7 ch
externo

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

externas and externo form a confusable pair in the Spanish index, two distinct headwords that are easily confused because they look alike, sound alike, or both. They differ by 1 letter(s) in length - close enough that the eye skips over the difference, far enough that meaning fully diverges. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 15625, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

externas is recorded at frequency rank #8,953, classified as averb, pronounced [eksˈt̪eɾnas]. externo is at rank #6,672, tagged as anadj, pronounced [eksˈt̪eɾno].

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 15625, this pair ranks #279,416 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.

Frequency comparison

externas#8,953
externo#6,672

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list

Frequently Asked Questions

Can "externas" and "externo" be used interchangeably?
No, "externas" and "externo" have distinct meanings and cannot be swapped without changing the meaning of a sentence. Understanding the specific definition and context for each word is essential for correct usage.

Remembering externas vs externo

The fastest way to pick the right one every time.

  • Check the role first: if you need a verb, it's “externas”; for an adjective, it's “externo”.
  • See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “externas” 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 FrequencyWords open word-frequency list