funciónvsfuncionanWhat's the difference?

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

Which to use

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

#1,196
“función” frequency rank
#4,605
“funcionan” frequency rank
5801
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature función funcionan
Definition Propósito de algo, uso de algo. Tercera persona del plural (ellos, ellas; ustedes, 2.ª persona) del presente de indicativo de funcionar.

Where the spellings diverge

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

7 ch
función
9 ch
funcionan

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

función and funcionan 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 2 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 5801, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

función is recorded at frequency rank #1,196, classified as anoun, pronounced [fũnˈsjõn]. funcionan is at rank #4,605, tagged as averb, pronounced [fũnˈsjonãn].

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 5801, this pair ranks #312,620 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.

Frequency comparison

función#1,196
funcionan#4,605

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list

Frequently Asked Questions

Can "función" and "funcionan" be used interchangeably?
No, "función" and "funcionan" 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 función vs funcionan

The fastest way to pick the right one every time.

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