metrópolivsmetrópolisWhat's the difference?

Which to use

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

#26,533
“metrópoli” frequency rank
#17,486
“metrópolis” frequency rank
44019
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature metrópoli metrópolis
Definition Ciudad de gran tamaño y población que actúa como centro político, económico o administrativo de un área mayor. Forma del plural de metrópoli.

Where the spellings diverge

Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set metrópoli and metrópolis apart are highlighted. They share 9 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.

9 ch
metrópoli
10 ch
metrópolis

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

A purely visual mix-up. metrópoli ([meˈt̪ɾopoli]) and metrópolis ([meˈt̪ɾopolis]) 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 1 extra letter(s) - “metrópoli” sits inside “metrópolis”. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 44019, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

metrópoli is recorded at frequency rank #26,533, classified as anoun, pronounced [meˈt̪ɾopoli]. metrópolis is at rank #17,486, tagged as anoun, pronounced [meˈt̪ɾopolis].

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 44019, this pair ranks #139,380 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.

Orthographic DNA of metrópoli vs metrópolis

Shared letters: eilmoprtó. Private to "metrópoli": -. Private to "metrópolis": s.

"metrópoli" · 9 letters · shape CVCCVCVCV  ·  "metrópolis" · 10 letters · shape CVCCVCVCVC

Frequency comparison

metrópoli#26,533
metrópolis#17,486

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list

Frequently Asked Questions

Can "metrópoli" and "metrópolis" be used interchangeably?
No. They are said differently ([meˈt̪ɾopoli] versus [meˈt̪ɾopolis]) and carry different meanings; reading the sentence aloud is usually enough to catch the wrong one.
Which is more common, "metrópoli" or "metrópolis"?
"metrópolis" is the more common of the two: it sits at frequency rank #17,486 in our Spanish list, against #26,533 for "metrópoli". The two are close in frequency, so neither is a safe default; check the meaning rather than guessing.

Remembering metrópoli vs metrópolis

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 “metrópoli” 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