metesvsmientesWhat's the difference?

Which to use

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

#10,534
“metes” frequency rank
#21,406
“mientes” frequency rank
31940
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature metes mientes
Definition Segunda persona del singular (tú) del presente de indicativo de meter o de meterse. Segunda persona del singular (tú) del presente de indicativo de mentir.

Where the spellings diverge

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

5 ch
metes
7 ch
mientes

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

A purely visual mix-up. metes ([ˈmet̪es]) and mientes ([ˈmjẽn̪t̪es]) 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 2 letter(s) in length. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 31940, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

metes is recorded at frequency rank #10,534, classified as averb, pronounced [ˈmet̪es]. mientes is at rank #21,406, tagged as averb, pronounced [ˈmjẽn̪t̪es].

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 31940, this pair ranks #204,535 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.

Orthographic DNA of metes vs mientes

Shared letters: emst. Private to "metes": -. Private to "mientes": in.

"metes" · 5 letters · shape CVCVC  ·  "mientes" · 7 letters · shape CVVCCVC

Known mistypes of this pair

  • metesemtes · meets · metess · metse · mettes · mmetes · mtees
  • mientesimentes · meintes · mienets · mienntes · mientess · mientse · mienttes · mietnes

Frequency comparison

metes#10,534
mientes#21,406

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list

Frequently Asked Questions

Can "metes" and "mientes" be used interchangeably?
No. They are said differently ([ˈmet̪es] versus [ˈmjẽn̪t̪es]) and carry different meanings; reading the sentence aloud is usually enough to catch the wrong one.
Which is more common, "metes" or "mientes"?
"metes" is the more common of the two: it sits at frequency rank #10,534 in our Spanish list, against #21,406 for "mientes". The two are close in frequency, so neither is a safe default; check the meaning rather than guessing.

Remembering metes vs mientes

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 “metes” 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