Which to use
“machete” and “machote” are a confusable Spanish pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #16,897
- “machete” frequency rank
- #49,776
- “machote” frequency rank
- 66673
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | machete | machote |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Cuchillo grande, de un solo filo y más corto que una espada, que se utiliza para segar, cortar o podar plantas, especialmente para abrirse paso en la jungla. | Hombre fuerte y valiente. |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set machete and machote apart are highlighted. They share 6 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. machete ([maˈt͡ʃet̪e]) and machote ([maˈt͡ʃot̪e]) are said differently, so reading them aloud is the quickest way to catch the wrong one. On the page they stay close: they differ by a single letter - e in “machete” becomes o in “machote”. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 66673, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
machete is recorded at frequency rank #16,897, classified as anoun, pronounced [maˈt͡ʃet̪e]. machote is at rank #49,776, tagged as anoun, pronounced [maˈt͡ʃot̪e].
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 66673, this pair ranks #39,205 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - among the most confusable pairs.
Orthographic DNA of machete vs machote
Shared letters: acehmt. Private to "machete": -. Private to "machote": o.
"machete" · 7 letters · shape CVCCVCV · "machote" · 7 letters · shape CVCCVCV
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "machete" and "machote" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "machete" or "machote"?
Remembering machete vs machote
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 “machete” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable