icevsirWhat's the difference?

Which to use

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

#14,863
“ice” frequency rank
#186
“ir” frequency rank
15049
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature ice ir
Definition Primera persona del singular (yo) del presente de subjuntivo de izar. Desplazarse de un lugar a otro.

Where the spellings diverge

Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set ice and ir apart are highlighted. They share 1 letter in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.

3 ch
ice
2 ch
ir

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

ice and ir 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 15049, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

ice is recorded at frequency rank #14,863, classified as averb, pronounced [ˈise]. ir is at rank #186, tagged as averb, pronounced [ˈiɾ].

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 15049, this pair ranks #281,695 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.

Frequency comparison

ice#14,863
ir#186

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list

Frequently Asked Questions

Can "ice" and "ir" be used interchangeably?
No, "ice" and "ir" 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 ice vs ir

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 “ice” 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