sistemavssystemsWhat's the difference?

Which to use

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

#220
“sistema” frequency rank
#25,466
“systems” frequency rank
25686
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature sistema systems
Definition Conjunto de reglas, principios, ideas o cosas, que están unidas por un criterio común y tienen una finalidad determinada. Forma del plural de system.

Where the spellings diverge

Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set sistema and systems apart are highlighted. They share 5 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.

7 ch
sistema
7 ch
systems

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

sistema and systems form a confusable pair in the Spanish index, two distinct headwords that are easily confused because they look alike, sound alike, or both. They share most of their letters but differ in 2 positions - close enough that the eye skips over the difference, far enough that meaning fully diverges. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 25686, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

sistema is recorded at frequency rank #220, classified as anoun, pronounced [sisˈt̪ema]. systems is at rank #25,466, tagged as anoun, pronounced /ˈsɪs.təmz/.

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 25686, this pair ranks #235,289 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.

Frequency comparison

sistema#220
systems#25,466

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list

Frequently Asked Questions

Can "sistema" and "systems" be used interchangeably?
No, "sistema" and "systems" have distinct meanings and cannot be swapped without changing the meaning of a sentence. Understanding the specific definition and context for each word is essential for correct usage.

Remembering sistema vs systems

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 “sistema” entry
  • Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list