Which to use
“mate” is a noun and “mírate” is a verb - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #3,719
- “mate” frequency rank
- #34,693
- “mírate” frequency rank
- 38412
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | mate | mírate |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Infusión de yerba mate consumida como bebida estimulante. Tradicionalmente, se sirve en un pote hecho de calabaza seca y se bebe con una bombilla metálica. Es común en la gastronomía de Argentina, Brasil, Paraguay, Uruguay y Bolivia (Tarija). | Segunda persona del singular (tú) del imperativo afirmativo de mirarse (con el pronombre «te» enclítico). |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set mate and mírate apart are highlighted. They share 4 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: mate is [ˈmat̪e] while mírate is [ˈmiɾat̪e]. Spoken aloud the problem disappears. In writing it persists, because they differ by 2 letter(s) in length, and the parts of speech differ too (noun vs verb), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 38412, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
mate is recorded at frequency rank #3,719, classified as anoun, pronounced [ˈmat̪e]. mírate is at rank #34,693, tagged as averb, pronounced [ˈmiɾat̪e].
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 38412, this pair ranks #170,170 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of mate vs mírate
Shared letters: aemt. Private to "mate": -. Private to "mírate": rí.
"mate" · 4 letters · shape CVCV · "mírate" · 6 letters · shape CVCVCV
Known mistypes of this pair
- mate ← amte · maet · matte · mmate · mtae
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "mate" and "mírate" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "mate" or "mírate"?
Remembering mate vs mírate
The fastest way to pick the right one every time.
- Check the role first: if you need a noun, it's “mate”; for a verb, it's “mírate”.
- See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “mate” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable