Which to use
“matam” and “matem” are a confusable Portuguese pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #7,546
- “matam” frequency rank
- #18,638
- “matem” frequency rank
- 26184
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | matam | matem |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | terceira pessoa do plural do presente do indicativo do verbo matar | terceira pessoa do plural do presente do modo subjuntivo do verbo matar |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set matam and matem apart are highlighted. They share 4 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. matam (/ˈma.tɐ̃ʊm/) and matem (/ˈma.tẽɲ/) are said differently, so reading them aloud is the quickest way to catch the wrong one. On the page they stay close: they differ by a single letter - a in “matam” becomes e in “matem”. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 26184, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
matam is recorded at frequency rank #7,546, classified as averb, pronounced /ˈma.tɐ̃ʊm/. matem is at rank #18,638, tagged as averb, pronounced /ˈma.tẽɲ/.
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 26184, this pair ranks #43,000 of 75,631 scored Portuguese confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of matam vs matem
Shared letters: amt. Private to "matam": -. Private to "matem": e.
"matam" · 5 letters · shape CVCVC · "matem" · 5 letters · shape CVCVC
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "matam" and "matem" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "matam" or "matem"?
Remembering matam vs matem
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 “matam” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable