Which to use
“teléfono” and “teléfonos” are a confusable Spanish pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #1,071
- “teléfono” frequency rank
- #4,466
- “teléfonos” frequency rank
- 5537
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | teléfono | teléfonos |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Equipamiento diseñado para transmitir y recibir sonidos por medio de señales eléctricas a la distancia. | Forma del plural de teléfono. |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set teléfono and teléfonos apart are highlighted. They share 8 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. teléfono ([t̪eˈlefono]) and teléfonos ([t̪eˈlefonos]) 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) - “teléfono” sits inside “teléfonos”. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 5537, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
teléfono is recorded at frequency rank #1,071, classified as anoun, pronounced [t̪eˈlefono]. teléfonos is at rank #4,466, tagged as anoun, pronounced [t̪eˈlefonos].
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 5537, this pair ranks #313,364 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of teléfono vs teléfonos
Shared letters: eflnoté. Private to "teléfono": -. Private to "teléfonos": s.
"teléfono" · 8 letters · shape CVCVCVCV · "teléfonos" · 9 letters · shape CVCVCVCVC
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "teléfono" and "teléfonos" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "teléfono" or "teléfonos"?
Remembering teléfono vs teléfonos
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 “teléfono” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable