Which to use
“vi” is a verb and “vis” is a noun - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #543
- “vi” frequency rank
- #25,863
- “vis” frequency rank
- 26406
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | vi | vis |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Primera persona del singular (yo) del pretérito perfecto simple de indicativo de ver o de verse. | Fuerza, vigor. |
Where the eye mixes vi and vis
Muted = shared; highlighted = the visual trap. They share 2 letters in sequence.
Why the eye confuses vi with vis
These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: vi is [ˈbi] while vis is [ˈbis]. Spoken aloud the problem disappears. In writing it persists, because they differ by 1 extra letter(s) - “vi” sits inside “vis”, and the parts of speech differ too (verb vs noun), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 26406, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
vi is recorded at frequency rank #543, classified as averb, pronounced [ˈbi]. vis is at rank #25,863, tagged as anoun, pronounced [ˈbis].
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 26406, this pair ranks #231,780 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of vi vs vis
Shared letters: iv. Private to "vi": -. Private to "vis": s.
"vi" · 2 letters · shape CV · "vis" · 3 letters · shape CVC
Frequently Asked Questions
Do "vi" and "vis" mean the same thing in a sentence?
Which is more common, "vi" or "vis"?
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 "vi" with definition, IPA, and generated misspellings. Word entry
- Full dictionary entry for "vis" - compare definitions side by side with the headword page. Word entry
- This pair ranks #231,780 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs in this corpus vintage. Corpus statistics
- "vi" and "vis" also get mixed up with nearby pairs, the highest-scored neighbour is "vis vs VOR". Nearby pair
Confusion rank #231,780 of 323,831 scored Spanish pairs, corpus vintage 2026-09-03, not spelling advice.