awkward
awk·ward/ˈɔk.wɚd/adjective, noun
awkward is spelled A-W-K-W-A-R-D, 2 syllables: awk·ward. The wrong spelling people search most is akward: about 680 Bing searches a month in the United States (September 2025 to August 2026), about 1 in 10 of all searches for the word. Awkward is an adjective meaning “Lacking dexterity in the use of the hands, or of instruments”.
How many letters and syllables are in awkward?
| Letters | 7: A-W-K-W-A-R-D |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: awk·ward |
| In writing | 19 times per million words; the 4,365th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | 3; the most searched, akward, about 680 Bing searches a month (all of them) |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); Bing searches in the United States: the average month from September 2025 to August 2026 (Microsoft Advertising keyword data through DataForSEO, read September 30, 2026).
How do you spell awkward?
Awkward is spelled A-W-K-W-A-R-D. 3 wrong spellings are searched or written often enough to measure; together they are about 2 in 10 of the searches for awkward in either form.
Bing searches in the United States: the average month from September 2025 to August 2026 (Microsoft Advertising keyword data through DataForSEO, read September 30, 2026). Wrong spellings are taken from Wiktionary entries tagged "misspelling" and its obsolete or nonstandard forms, Wikipedia's Lists of common misspellings and the codespell dictionary, then measured. The proofreader's marks show the change that corrects each one.
How common is awkward?
Awkward appears 19 times per million words in written English, the 4,365th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce awkward?
- UK /ˈɔːk.wəd/
- /ˈaːk.wɐd/
- US /ˈɔk.wɚd/
Awkward has 2 syllables, split awk·ward in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-ne-awkward.ogg, En-us-awkward.ogg, En-au-awkward.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of awkward
- more awkward comparative
- most awkward superlative
- awkwards plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does awkward mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Lacking dexterity in the use of the hands, or of instruments.
John was awkward at performing the trick. He'll have to practice to improve.
- 2
Not easily managed or effected; embarrassing.
That was an extremely awkward moment. Everyone was watching.
- 3
Lacking social skills, or uncomfortable with social interaction.
I'm very awkward at parties.
- 4
Perverse; adverse; difficult to handle.
He's a right awkward chap.
noun
- 1
Someone or something that is awkward.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Awkward in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | maladroit, gauche , embarrassant , inconvenant |
| German | ungeschickt, unbeholfen, umständlich, tollpatschig, tölpelhaft, patschert |
| Portuguese | desajeitado, bisonho , constrangedor, desconcertante , tímido, tímida |
| Spanish | torpe, desmañado , embarazoso, delicado, incómodo, dificultoso |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does awkward come from?
From awk (“odd, clumsy”) + -ward. Compare Middle English aukeward (“in the wrong direction”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).