simplevssimplesConfusable pair

Which to use

“simple” and “simples” are a confusable Spanish pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.

#977
“simple” frequency rank
#3,960
“simples” frequency rank
4937
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature simple simples
Definition Fácil de hacer o de entender. Forma del plural de simple.

Where the eye mixes simple and simples

Muted = shared; highlighted = the visual trap. They share 6 letters in sequence.

6 ch
simple
7 ch
simples

Why the eye confuses simple with simples

A purely visual mix-up. simple ([ˈsĩmple]) and simples ([ˈsĩmples]) 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) - “simple” sits inside “simples”. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 4937, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

simple is recorded at frequency rank #977, classified as anadj, pronounced [ˈsĩmple]. simples is at rank #3,960, tagged as anadj, pronounced [ˈsĩmples].

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 4937, this pair ranks #314,874 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.

Orthographic DNA of simple vs simples

Shared letters: eilmps. Private to "simple": -. Private to "simples": -.

"simple" · 6 letters · shape CVCCCV  ·  "simples" · 7 letters · shape CVCCCVC

Known mistypes of this pair

  • simplecimple · ismple · simlpe · simmple · simpel · simplle · simpple · sipmle
  • simplescimples · ismples · simlpes · simmples · simpels · simpless · simplles · simplse

Frequently Asked Questions

Do "simple" and "simples" mean the same thing in a sentence?
No. They are said differently ([ˈsĩmple] versus [ˈsĩmples]) and carry different meanings; reading the sentence aloud is usually enough to catch the wrong one.
Which is more common, "simple" or "simples"?
"simple" is the more common of the two: it sits at frequency rank #977 in our Spanish list, against #3,960 for "simples". The two are close in frequency, so neither is a safe default; check the meaning rather than guessing.

After this comparison

Visual near-miss handled. Browse the word pages or a neighbour when the next look-alike shows up.

  • Full dictionary entry for "simple" with definition, IPA, and generated misspellings. Word entry
  • Full dictionary entry for "simples" - compare definitions side by side with the headword page. Word entry
  • This pair ranks #314,874 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs in this corpus vintage. Corpus statistics
  • "simple" and "simples" also get mixed up with nearby pairs, the highest-scored neighbour is "simples vs simpleza". Nearby pair
  • Recorded mistypes exist for at least one side of this pair, useful when a spell-checker or OCR lands on the wrong form. See mistypes

Confusion rank #314,874 of 323,831 scored Spanish pairs, corpus vintage 2026-09-03, not spelling advice.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list