Which to use
“picado” is an adjective and “pierdo” is a verb - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #12,669
- “picado” frequency rank
- #8,851
- “pierdo” frequency rank
- 21520
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | picado | pierdo |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Epíteto del patrón que se hace con picaduras para señalar un dibujo. | Primera persona del singular (yo) del presente de indicativo de perder o de perderse. |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set picado and pierdo apart are highlighted. They share 4 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: picado is [piˈkað̞o] while pierdo is [ˈpjeɾð̞o]. Spoken aloud the problem disappears. In writing it persists, because they share most of their letters but differ in 2 positions, and the parts of speech differ too (adjective vs verb), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 21520, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
picado is recorded at frequency rank #12,669, classified as anadj, pronounced [piˈkað̞o]. pierdo is at rank #8,851, tagged as averb, pronounced [ˈpjeɾð̞o].
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 21520, this pair ranks #254,552 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of picado vs pierdo
Shared letters: diop. Private to "picado": ac. Private to "pierdo": er.
"picado" · 6 letters · shape CVCVCV · "pierdo" · 6 letters · shape CVVCCV
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "picado" and "pierdo" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "picado" or "pierdo"?
Remembering picado vs pierdo
The fastest way to pick the right one every time.
- Check the role first: if you need an adjective, it's “picado”; for a verb, it's “pierdo”.
- See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “picado” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable