Which to use
“is” is a verb and “isto” is a pronoun - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #1,709
- “is” frequency rank
- #349
- “isto” frequency rank
- 2058
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | is | isto |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | contração de agus; e | indica algo que está próximo a quem fala ou assunto de que se fala |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set is and isto 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: is is averb and istoapronoun. On the page they differ by 2 extra letter(s) - “is” sits inside “isto”. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 2058, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
is is recorded at frequency rank #1,709, classified as averb. isto is at rank #349, tagged as apron, pronounced /ˈis.tu/.
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 2058, this pair ranks #73,430 of 75,631 scored Portuguese confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of is vs isto
Shared letters: is. Private to "is": -. Private to "isto": ot.
"is" · 2 letters · shape VC · "isto" · 4 letters · shape VCCV
Known mistypes of this pair
- isto ← isot · issto · istto · itso
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "is" and "isto" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "is" or "isto"?
Remembering is vs isto
The fastest way to pick the right one every time.
- Check the role first: if you need a verb, it's “is”; for a pronoun, it's “isto”.
- See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “is” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable