máximavsmáximeWhich spelling fits?

Quick tell: máxima is a noun, máxime is an adverb, so they fill different roles in a sentence.

Which to use

“máxima” is a noun and “máxime” is an adverb - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.

#2,512
“máxima” frequency rank
#31,012
“máxime” frequency rank
33524
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature máxima máxime
Definition Regla, principio o proposición generalmente admitida por todos los que profesan una facultad o ciencia. Principalmente.

Where the eye mixes máxima and máxime

Muted = shared; highlighted = the visual trap. They share 5 letters in sequence.

6 ch
máxima
6 ch
máxime

Look-alike desk: máxima vs máxime

These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: máxima is [ˈmaksima] while máxime is [ˈmaksime]. Spoken aloud the problem disappears. In writing it persists, because they differ by a single letter - a in “máxima” becomes e in “máxime”, and the parts of speech differ too (noun vs adverb), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 33524, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

máxima is recorded at frequency rank #2,512, classified as anoun, pronounced [ˈmaksima]. máxime is at rank #31,012, tagged as anadv, pronounced [ˈmaksime].

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 33524, this pair ranks #196,346 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.

Orthographic DNA of máxima vs máxime

Shared letters: imxá. Private to "máxima": a. Private to "máxime": e.

"máxima" · 6 letters · shape CVCVCV  ·  "máxime" · 6 letters · shape CVCVCV

Frequently Asked Questions

Is swapping "máxima" for "máxime" ever safe?
No - they are not even the same part of speech. "máxima" is a noun and "máxime" an adverb, so a sentence built for one is usually ungrammatical with the other.
Frequency check: "máxima" vs "máxime" - which ranks higher?
"máxima" is the more common of the two: it sits at frequency rank #2,512 in our Spanish list, against #31,012 for "máxime". That is a wide gap, so in ordinary text the rarer spelling is the one worth double-checking.

After this comparison

Pronunciation already separates them, if the page still looks alike, the dictionary links below settle it.

  • Full dictionary entry for "máxima" with definition, IPA, and generated misspellings. Word entry
  • Full dictionary entry for "máxime" - compare definitions side by side with the headword page. Word entry
  • This pair ranks #196,346 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs in this corpus vintage. Corpus statistics
  • "máxima" and "máxime" also get mixed up with nearby pairs, the highest-scored neighbour is "Maite vs máxime". Nearby pair

Confusion rank #196,346 of 323,831 scored Spanish pairs, corpus vintage 2026-09-03, not spelling advice.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list