filevsfilónWhat's the difference?

Quick tell: file is a verb, filón is a noun, so they fill different roles in a sentence.

Which to use

“file” is a verb and “filón” is a noun - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.

#27,231
“file” frequency rank
#42,452
“filón” frequency rank
69683
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature file filón
Definition Primera persona del singular (yo) del presente de subjuntivo de filar. Masa metálifera o pétrea que llena una grieta de las rocas, frecuentemente depositada por sedimentación de aguas subterráneas o de origen volcánico.

Where the spellings diverge

Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set file and filón apart are highlighted. They share 3 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.

4 ch
file
5 ch
filón

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: file is [ˈfile] while filón is [fiˈlõn]. Spoken aloud the problem disappears. In writing it persists, because they differ by 1 letter(s) in length, and the parts of speech differ too (verb vs noun), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 69683, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

file is recorded at frequency rank #27,231, classified as averb, pronounced [ˈfile]. filón is at rank #42,452, tagged as anoun, pronounced [fiˈlõn].

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 69683, this pair ranks #31,438 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - among the most confusable pairs.

Orthographic DNA of file vs filón

Shared letters: fil. Private to "file": e. Private to "filón": .

"file" · 4 letters · shape CVCV  ·  "filón" · 5 letters · shape CVCVC

Known mistypes of this pair

  • fileffile · fille · flie · ifle

Frequency comparison

file#27,231
filón#42,452

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list

Frequently Asked Questions

Can "file" and "filón" be used interchangeably?
No - they are not even the same part of speech. "file" is a verb and "filón" a noun, so a sentence built for one is usually ungrammatical with the other.
Which is more common, "file" or "filón"?
"file" is the more common of the two: it sits at frequency rank #27,231 in our Spanish list, against #42,452 for "filón". The two are close in frequency, so neither is a safe default; check the meaning rather than guessing.

Remembering file vs filón

The fastest way to pick the right one every time.

  • Check the role first: if you need a verb, it's “file”; for a noun, it's “filón”.
  • See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “file” 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