Which to use
“tónica” is a noun and “tóxica” is an adjective - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #22,891
- “tónica” frequency rank
- #15,983
- “tóxica” frequency rank
- 38874
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | tónica | tóxica |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Bebida gaseosa, generalmente aromatizada con quinina, de sabor más o menos amargo. | Forma del femenino singular de tóxico. |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set tónica and tóxica apart are highlighted. They share 5 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: tónica is [ˈt̪onika] while tóxica is [ˈt̪oksika]. Spoken aloud the problem disappears. In writing it persists, because they differ by a single letter - n in “tónica” becomes x in “tóxica”, and the parts of speech differ too (noun vs adjective), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 38874, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
tónica is recorded at frequency rank #22,891, classified as anoun, pronounced [ˈt̪onika]. tóxica is at rank #15,983, tagged as anadj, pronounced [ˈt̪oksika].
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 38874, this pair ranks #167,618 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of tónica vs tóxica
Shared letters: acitó. Private to "tónica": n. Private to "tóxica": x.
"tónica" · 6 letters · shape CVCVCV · "tóxica" · 6 letters · shape CVCVCV
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "tónica" and "tóxica" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "tónica" or "tóxica"?
Remembering tónica vs tóxica
The fastest way to pick the right one every time.
- Check the role first: if you need a noun, it's “tónica”; for an adjective, it's “tóxica”.
- See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “tónica” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable