Which to use
“píldora” and “pólvora” are a confusable Spanish pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #25,013
- “píldora” frequency rank
- #12,039
- “pólvora” frequency rank
- 37052
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | píldora | pólvora |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Masa pequeña, dura y seca, que cabe fácilmente en la boca y puede tragarse, y que a menudo se consume vía oral como medicamento. | Sustancia explosiva utilizada principalmente como propulsor de proyectiles en las armas de fuego y en los juegos pirotécnicos. |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set píldora and pólvora 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. píldora ([ˈpil̪d̪oɾa]) and pólvora ([ˈpolβ̞oɾa]) 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 37052, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
píldora is recorded at frequency rank #25,013, classified as anoun, pronounced [ˈpil̪d̪oɾa]. pólvora is at rank #12,039, tagged as anoun, pronounced [ˈpolβ̞oɾa].
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 37052, this pair ranks #177,363 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of píldora vs pólvora
Shared letters: alopr. Private to "píldora": dí. Private to "pólvora": vó.
"píldora" · 7 letters · shape CVCCVCV · "pólvora" · 7 letters · shape CVCCVCV
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "píldora" and "pólvora" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "píldora" or "pólvora"?
Remembering píldora vs pólvora
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 “píldora” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable