Which to use
“gobernar” is a verb and “gobierna” is a noun - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #5,737
- “gobernar” frequency rank
- #9,464
- “gobierna” frequency rank
- 15201
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | gobernar | gobierna |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Mandar con autoridad o regir una cosa. | Pieza de metal, ordinariamente en forma de saeta, que se coloca en lo alto de las torres u otros edificios de modo que pueda girar alrededor de un eje vertical y señalar la dirección del viento. |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set gobernar and gobierna apart are highlighted. They share 7 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: gobernar is [goβ̞eɾˈnaɾ] while gobierna is [goˈβ̞jeɾna]. Spoken aloud the problem disappears. In writing it persists, because they share most of their letters but differ in 5 positions, and the parts of speech differ too (verb vs noun), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 15201, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
gobernar is recorded at frequency rank #5,737, classified as averb, pronounced [goβ̞eɾˈnaɾ]. gobierna is at rank #9,464, tagged as anoun, pronounced [goˈβ̞jeɾna].
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 15201, this pair ranks #281,133 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of gobernar vs gobierna
Shared letters: abegnor. Private to "gobernar": -. Private to "gobierna": i.
"gobernar" · 8 letters · shape CVCVCCVC · "gobierna" · 8 letters · shape CVCVVCCV
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "gobernar" and "gobierna" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "gobernar" or "gobierna"?
Remembering gobernar vs gobierna
The fastest way to pick the right one every time.
- Check the role first: if you need a verb, it's “gobernar”; for a noun, it's “gobierna”.
- See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “gobernar” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable