simplesvssinglesTell them apart

Quick tell: simples is a adjective, singles is a verb, so they fill different roles in a sentence.

Which to use

“simples” is an adjective and “singles” is a verb - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.

#3,960
“simples” frequency rank
#23,953
“singles” frequency rank
27913
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature simples singles
Definition Forma del plural de simple. Segunda persona del singular (tú) del presente de subjuntivo de singlar.

Where the eye mixes simples and singles

Muted = shared; highlighted = the visual trap. They share 5 letters in sequence.

7 ch
simples
7 ch
singles

Why the eye confuses simples with singles

These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: simples is [ˈsĩmples] while singles is [ˈsĩŋgles]. 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 27913, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

simples is recorded at frequency rank #3,960, classified as anadj, pronounced [ˈsĩmples]. singles is at rank #23,953, tagged as averb, pronounced [ˈsĩŋgles].

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 27913, this pair ranks #224,553 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.

Orthographic DNA of simples vs singles

Shared letters: eils. Private to "simples": mp. Private to "singles": gn.

"simples" · 7 letters · shape CVCCCVC  ·  "singles" · 7 letters · shape CVCCCVC

Known mistypes of this pair

  • simplescimples · ismples · simlpes · simmples · simpels · simpless · simplles · simplse
  • singlescingles · isngles · signles · singels · singgles · singless · singlles · singlse

Frequently Asked Questions

Can "simples" and "singles" be used interchangeably?
No - they are not even the same part of speech. "simples" is an adjective and "singles" a verb, so a sentence built for one is usually ungrammatical with the other.
Frequency check: "simples" vs "singles" - which ranks higher?
"simples" is the more common of the two: it sits at frequency rank #3,960 in our Spanish list, against #23,953 for "singles". 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 "simples" with definition, IPA, and generated misspellings. Word entry
  • Full dictionary entry for "singles" - compare definitions side by side with the headword page. Word entry
  • This pair ranks #224,553 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs in this corpus vintage. Corpus statistics
  • "simples" and "singles" also get mixed up with nearby pairs, the highest-scored neighbour is "singer vs singles". 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 #224,553 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