Which to use
“relámpago” and “relámpagos” are a confusable Spanish pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #17,805
- “relámpago” frequency rank
- #33,820
- “relámpagos” frequency rank
- 51625
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | relámpago | relámpagos |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Resplandor difuso en el interior de las nubes de tormenta, de décimas de segundo de duración, producido por la incandescencia del cuerpo conductor (generalmente el aire) al ser recorrido por cargas electrostáticas que saltan de un campo eléctrico a otro debido a la diferencia de potencial existente entre ambos. | Forma del plural de relámpago. |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set relámpago and relámpagos 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. relámpago ([reˈlãmpaɣ̞o]) and relámpagos ([reˈlãmpaɣ̞os]) 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 1 extra letter(s) - “relámpago” sits inside “relámpagos”. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 51625, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
relámpago is recorded at frequency rank #17,805, classified as anoun, pronounced [reˈlãmpaɣ̞o]. relámpagos is at rank #33,820, tagged as anoun, pronounced [reˈlãmpaɣ̞os].
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 51625, this pair ranks #96,965 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of relámpago vs relámpagos
Shared letters: aeglmoprá. Private to "relámpago": -. Private to "relámpagos": s.
"relámpago" · 9 letters · shape CVCVCCVCV · "relámpagos" · 10 letters · shape CVCVCCVCVC
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "relámpago" and "relámpagos" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "relámpago" or "relámpagos"?
Remembering relámpago vs relámpagos
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 “relámpago” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable