Which to use
“preocupar” and “preocuparse” are a confusable Spanish pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #16,948
- “preocupar” frequency rank
- #6,719
- “preocuparse” frequency rank
- 23667
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | preocupar | preocuparse |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Mantener fijo el pensamiento en un asunto o suceso negativo o perjudicial, que causa temor o inquietud. | Tener el espíritu absorto en una inquietud, temor o desasosiego. |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set preocupar and preocuparse apart are highlighted. They share 9 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. preocupar ([pɾeokuˈpaɾ]) and preocuparse ([pɾeokuˈpaɾse]) 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 2 extra letter(s) - “preocupar” sits inside “preocuparse”. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 23667, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
preocupar is recorded at frequency rank #16,948, classified as averb, pronounced [pɾeokuˈpaɾ]. preocuparse is at rank #6,719, tagged as averb, pronounced [pɾeokuˈpaɾse].
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 23667, this pair ranks #244,724 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of preocupar vs preocuparse
Shared letters: aceopru. Private to "preocupar": -. Private to "preocuparse": s.
"preocupar" · 9 letters · shape CCVVCVCVC · "preocuparse" · 11 letters · shape CCVVCVCVCCV
Known mistypes of this pair
- preocupar ← perocupar · ppreocupar · precoupar · preoccupar · preocpuar · preocuapr · preocuparr · preocuppar
- preocuparse ← perocuparse · ppreocuparse · precouparse · preoccuparse · preocpuarse · preocuaprse · preocuparce · preocupares
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "preocupar" and "preocuparse" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "preocupar" or "preocuparse"?
Remembering preocupar vs preocuparse
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 “preocupar” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable