Which to use
“ir” is a verb and “irmã” is a noun - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #162
- “ir” frequency rank
- #939
- “irmã” frequency rank
- 1101
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | ir | irmã |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | mover-se de um lugar para outro | aquela que em relação a outrem, possui os dois pais (o mesmo pai e a mesma mãe ao mesmo tempo) em comum |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set ir and irmã apart are highlighted. They share 2 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
Our dataset has no pronunciation recorded for both members, so the reliable separator here is grammatical: ir is averb and irmãanoun. On the page they differ by 2 extra letter(s) - “ir” sits inside “irmã”. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 1101, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
ir is recorded at frequency rank #162, classified as averb. irmã is at rank #939, tagged as anoun, pronounced /iɾ.ˈmɐ̃/.
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 1101, this pair ranks #74,520 of 75,631 scored Portuguese confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of ir vs irmã
Shared letters: ir. Private to "ir": -. Private to "irmã": mã.
"ir" · 2 letters · shape VC · "irmã" · 4 letters · shape VCCV
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "ir" and "irmã" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "ir" or "irmã"?
Remembering ir vs irmã
The fastest way to pick the right one every time.
- Check the role first: if you need a verb, it's “ir”; for a noun, it's “irmã”.
- See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “ir” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable