Which to use
“pa” is a preposition and “Per” is a name - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #1,690
- “pa” frequency rank
- #3,203
- “Per” frequency rank
- 4893
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | pa | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Forma abreviada de "para". | Pedro. Nombre propio de hombre. |
Where the eye mixes pa and Per
Muted = shared; highlighted = the visual trap. They share 1 letter in sequence.
Look-alike desk: pa vs Per
These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: pa is [ˈpa] while Per is [ˈpæːr]. Spoken aloud the problem disappears. In writing it persists, because they differ by 1 letter(s) in length, and the parts of speech differ too (preposition vs name), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 4893, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
pa is recorded at frequency rank #1,690, classified as aprep, pronounced [ˈpa]. Per is at rank #3,203, tagged as aname, pronounced [ˈpæːr].
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 4893, this pair ranks #314,988 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of pa vs Per
Shared letters: p. Private to "pa": a. Private to "Per": er.
"pa" · 2 letters · shape CV · "Per" · 3 letters · shape CVC
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "pa" and "Per" be used interchangeably?
In ordinary Spanish text, does "pa" or "Per" show up more?
What to do next
Pronunciation already separates them, if the page still looks alike, the dictionary links below settle it.
- Full dictionary entry for "pa" with definition, IPA, and generated misspellings. Word entry
- Full dictionary entry for "Per" - compare definitions side by side with the headword page. Word entry
- This pair ranks #314,988 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs in this corpus vintage. Corpus statistics
- "pa" and "Per" also get mixed up with nearby pairs, the highest-scored neighbour is "Per vs prey". Nearby pair
Confusion rank #314,988 of 323,831 scored Spanish pairs, corpus vintage 2026-09-03, not spelling advice.