elk

[elk]

/[elk]/ noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

The verdict

“elk” is an uncommon German word, ranked #69,162 in German word frequency and used as a noun.

#69,162
frequency rank, German
3
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Art großer Hirsche in Nordamerika und (wenige) in Ostasien; Cervus canadensis

Key facts for elk
PropertyValue
Headwordelk
LanguageGerman
Part of speechNoun
IPA[elk]
Letters3
Frequency rank#69,162
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “elk” sits in German frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). elk lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The German entry for elk is 3 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [elk]. Corpus data places it at rank #69,162 in overall German word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

elk doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Wiktionary doesn't record an etymology for this headword, so its spelling is easiest explained by how it's pronounced rather than where it came from. The correct German form is elk, spelled E-L-K.

Definition

  1. 1
    Art großer Hirsche in Nordamerika und (wenige) in Ostasien; Cervus canadensis
  2. 2
    größte heute lebende Hirschart mit langen Gliedmaßen und schaufelförmigem Geweih; Elch, Alces alces

Synonyms

wapitiAmerican elkmoose

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 German corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "elk"?
"elk" is spelled E-L-K. The IPA pronunciation is [elk].
What does "elk" mean?
As a noun, "elk" means: Art großer Hirsche in Nordamerika und (wenige) in Ostasien; Cervus canadensis
How do you pronounce "elk"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "elk" is [elk]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "elk" come from?
"elk" is a German word. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data for this and other words across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German on PlainSpell.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “elk”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct German spelling is E-L-K - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [elk] (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more German words and confusable pairs in the same reference. German words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list