Which to use
“sobras” and “sombras” are a confusable Spanish pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #18,982
- “sobras” frequency rank
- #4,653
- “sombras” frequency rank
- 23635
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | sobras | sombras |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Parte que queda de algo, especialmente comida, después de usarlo o consumirlo. | Forma del plural de sombra. |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set sobras and sombras apart are highlighted. They share 6 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. sobras ([ˈsoβ̞ɾas]) and sombras ([ˈsõmbɾas]) 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 letter(s) in length. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 23635, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
sobras is recorded at frequency rank #18,982, classified as anoun, pronounced [ˈsoβ̞ɾas]. sombras is at rank #4,653, tagged as anoun, pronounced [ˈsõmbɾas].
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 23635, this pair ranks #244,867 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of sobras vs sombras
Shared letters: abors. Private to "sobras": -. Private to "sombras": m.
"sobras" · 6 letters · shape CVCCVC · "sombras" · 7 letters · shape CVCCCVC
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "sobras" and "sombras" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "sobras" or "sombras"?
Remembering sobras vs sombras
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 “sobras” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable