dandle
/ˈdændəl/
"dandle" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“dandle” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a verb - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 6
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To move up and down on one's knee or in one's arms, in affectionate play, usually said of a child.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | dandle |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Verb |
| IPA | /ˈdændəl/ |
| Letters | 6 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “dandle” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for dandle is 6 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈdændəl/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
Zero misspellings are on record for dandle in our index, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. Our dataset records no confusable match here, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.
Etymologically, the entry records: Compare Scots dandill (“to dander; go about idly; move uncertainly; trifle”), English dialectal dander (“to wander about; talk incoherently; rave”), Middle Dutch dantinnen (“to trifle”) (from French dandiner (“to swing; waddle”)), German dändeln, tändeln (“… The correct English form is dandle, spelled D-A-N-D-L-E.
Definition
- 1To move up and down on one's knee or in one's arms, in affectionate play, usually said of a child.
- 2To treat with fondness or affection, as if a child; to pet.
- 3To play with; to wheedle.
Etymology
Compare Scots dandill (“to dander; go about idly; move uncertainly; trifle”), English dialectal dander (“to wander about; talk incoherently; rave”), Middle Dutch dantinnen (“to trifle”) (from French dandiner (“to swing; waddle”)), German dändeln, tändeln (“to trifle, dandle”), Middle Dutch and Provincial German danten (“to do foolish things; trifle”), German Tand (“trifle, prattle”).
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using “dandle”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is D-A-N-D-L-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˈdændəl/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English 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.