larynxvslynxWhat's the difference?

Which to use

“larynx” and “lynx” are a confusable French pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.

#42,428
“larynx” frequency rank
#23,925
“lynx” frequency rank
66353
confusion score

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature larynx lynx
Definition Partie supérieure de la trachée-artère, qui est un des organes de la respiration et le principal instrument de la voix. Une des espèces de félins sauvages ressemblant à un gros chat, dont la face est ornée de favoris et d’oreilles triangulaires surmontées d’une touffe de poil, et le corps doté d’une courte queue et de longues pattes.

Where the spellings diverge

Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set larynx and lynx apart are highlighted. They share 4 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.

6 ch
larynx
4 ch
lynx

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

larynx and lynx form a confusable pair in the French index, two distinct headwords that are easily confused because they look alike, sound alike, or both. They differ by 2 letter(s) in length - close enough that the eye skips over the difference, far enough that meaning fully diverges. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 66353, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.

larynx is recorded at frequency rank #42,428, classified as anoun, pronounced \la.ʁɛ̃ks\. lynx is at rank #23,925, tagged as anoun, pronounced \lɛ̃ks\.

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 66353, this pair ranks #68,217 of 440,172 scored French confusable pairs - among the most confusable pairs.

Frequency comparison

larynx#42,428
lynx#23,925

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list

Frequently Asked Questions

Can "larynx" and "lynx" be used interchangeably?
No, "larynx" and "lynx" 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 larynx vs lynx

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 “larynx” 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