limpiarvslimpiosWhat's the difference?

Quick tell: limpiar is a verb, limpios is an adjective, so they fill different roles in a sentence.

Which to use

“limpiar” is a verb and “limpios” is an adjective - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.

#3,569
“limpiar” frequency rank
#12,414
“limpios” frequency rank
15983
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature limpiar limpios
Definition Sacar la suciedad que hay en algo. Forma del plural de limpio.

Where the spellings diverge

Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set limpiar and limpios apart are highlighted. They share 5 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.

7 ch
limpiar
7 ch
limpios

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: limpiar is [lĩmˈpjaɾ] while limpios is [ˈlĩmpjos]. Spoken aloud the problem disappears. In writing it persists, because they share most of their letters but differ in 2 positions, and the parts of speech differ too (verb vs adjective), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 15983, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

limpiar is recorded at frequency rank #3,569, classified as averb, pronounced [lĩmˈpjaɾ]. limpios is at rank #12,414, tagged as anadj, pronounced [ˈlĩmpjos].

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 15983, this pair ranks #277,987 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.

Orthographic DNA of limpiar vs limpios

Shared letters: ilmp. Private to "limpiar": ar. Private to "limpios": os.

"limpiar" · 7 letters · shape CVCCVVC  ·  "limpios" · 7 letters · shape CVCCVVC

Known mistypes of this pair

  • limpiarilmpiar · limipar · limmpiar · limpair · limpiarr · limpira · limppiar · lipmiar
  • limpiosilmpios · limipos · limmpios · limpioss · limpiso · limpois · limppios · lipmios

Frequency comparison

limpiar#3,569
limpios#12,414

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list

Frequently Asked Questions

Can "limpiar" and "limpios" be used interchangeably?
No - they are not even the same part of speech. "limpiar" is a verb and "limpios" an adjective, so a sentence built for one is usually ungrammatical with the other.
Which is more common, "limpiar" or "limpios"?
"limpiar" is the more common of the two: it sits at frequency rank #3,569 in our Spanish list, against #12,414 for "limpios". The two are close in frequency, so neither is a safe default; check the meaning rather than guessing.

Remembering limpiar vs limpios

The fastest way to pick the right one every time.

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