funcionabavsfuncionarWhat's the difference?

Which to use

“funcionaba” and “funcionar” are a confusable Spanish pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.

#11,583
“funcionaba” frequency rank
#3,412
“funcionar” frequency rank
14995
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature funcionaba funcionar
Definition Primera persona del singular (yo) del pretérito imperfecto de indicativo de funcionar. Realizar la o las funciones para lo que una labor o un mecanismo fue concebido.

Where the spellings diverge

Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set funcionaba and funcionar apart are highlighted. They share 8 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.

10 ch
funcionaba
9 ch
funcionar

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

funcionaba and funcionar 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 14995, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

funcionaba is recorded at frequency rank #11,583, classified as averb, pronounced [fũnsjoˈnaβ̞a]. funcionar is at rank #3,412, tagged as averb, pronounced [fũnsjoˈnaɾ].

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 14995, this pair ranks #281,901 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.

Frequency comparison

funcionaba#11,583
funcionar#3,412

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list

Frequently Asked Questions

Can "funcionaba" and "funcionar" be used interchangeably?
No, "funcionaba" and "funcionar" 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 funcionaba vs funcionar

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 “funcionaba” 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