Which to use
“cem” is a num and “cu” is a noun - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #3,188
- “cem” frequency rank
- #4,716
- “cu” frequency rank
- 7904
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | cem | cu |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | número equivalente a dez dezenas; cardinalidade de um conjunto que contenha uma centena de elementos distintos; representado pelo símbolo 100 (algarismos arábicos) ou C (algarismos romanos) | extremidade do intestino grosso; ânus |
Where the eye mixes cem and cu
Muted = shared; highlighted = the visual trap. They share 1 letter in sequence.
Why the eye confuses cem with cu
These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: cem is /ˈsɐ̃j̃/ while cu is /ˈku/. Spoken aloud the problem disappears. In writing it persists, because they differ by 1 letter(s) in length, and the parts of speech differ too (num vs noun), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 7904, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
cem is recorded at frequency rank #3,188, classified as anum, pronounced /ˈsɐ̃j̃/. cu is at rank #4,716, tagged as anoun, pronounced /ˈku/.
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 7904, this pair ranks #66,068 of 75,631 scored Portuguese confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of cem vs cu
Shared letters: c. Private to "cem": em. Private to "cu": u.
"cem" · 3 letters · shape CVC · "cu" · 2 letters · shape CV
Frequently Asked Questions
Is swapping "cem" for "cu" ever safe?
Which is more common, "cem" or "cu"?
Useful next steps
Visual near-miss handled. Browse the word pages or a neighbour when the next look-alike shows up.
- Full dictionary entry for "cem" with definition, IPA, and generated misspellings. Word entry
- Full dictionary entry for "cu" - compare definitions side by side with the headword page. Word entry
- This pair ranks #66,068 of 75,631 scored Portuguese confusable pairs in this corpus vintage. Corpus statistics
- "cem" and "cu" also get mixed up with nearby pairs, the highest-scored neighbour is "chau vs cu". Nearby pair
Confusion rank #66,068 of 75,631 scored Portuguese pairs, corpus vintage 2026-09-03, not spelling advice.