Which to use
“perilla” and “polilla” are a confusable Spanish pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #45,504
- “perilla” frequency rank
- #32,810
- “polilla” frequency rank
- 78314
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | perilla | polilla |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Objeto cualquiera que recuerda por su forma a una pera. | Mariposa nocturna de un centímetro de largo, cenicienta, con una mancha negra en las alas, que son horizontales y estrechas, cabeza amarillenta y antenas casi verticales. Su larva, de unos dos milímetros de longitud, se alimenta de borra y hace una especie de capullo, destruyendo para ello la materia en donde anida, que suele ser de lana, tejidos, pieles, papel, etc. |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set perilla and polilla apart are highlighted. They share 5 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. perilla ([peˈɾiʝa]) and polilla ([poˈliʝa]) are said differently, so reading them aloud is the quickest way to catch the wrong one. On the page they stay close: they share most of their letters but differ in 2 positions. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 78314, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
perilla is recorded at frequency rank #45,504, classified as anoun, pronounced [peˈɾiʝa]. polilla is at rank #32,810, tagged as anoun, pronounced [poˈliʝa].
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 78314, this pair ranks #14,640 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - among the most confusable pairs.
Orthographic DNA of perilla vs polilla
Shared letters: ailp. Private to "perilla": er. Private to "polilla": o.
"perilla" · 7 letters · shape CVCVCCV · "polilla" · 7 letters · shape CVCVCCV
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "perilla" and "polilla" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "perilla" or "polilla"?
Remembering perilla vs polilla
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 “perilla” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable