dark

/dɑːk/

//dɑːk// adj

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

"dark" is a 4-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“dark” is in the everyday core of English, ranked #966 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#966
frequency rank, English
4
letters
6
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Having an absolute or (more often) relative lack of light.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

dark vs Dr
25% similar
dark vs day
50% similar
dark vs dry
50% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for dark
PropertyValue
Headworddark
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/dɑːk/
Letters4
Frequency rank#966
Misspellings tracked6
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “dark” sits in English 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). dark 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 English entry for dark is 4 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /dɑːk/. Corpus data places it at rank #966 in overall English word frequency, putting it firmly in the everyday core of the language. Wiktionary records 14 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 6 likely wrong-spelling variants for dark, with forms such as "adrk", "dakr", and "darkk". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "Dr", "day", "dry", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English derk, from Old English deorc, from Proto-West Germanic *derk (“dark”), of uncertain origin, but possibly from Proto-Indo-European *dʰerg- (“dim, dull”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰer- (“dull, dirty”). The correct English form is dark, spelled D-A-R-K.

Definition

  1. 1
    Having an absolute or (more often) relative lack of light.
  2. 2
    Having an absolute or (more often) relative lack of light.
  3. 3
    Having an absolute or (more often) relative lack of light.
  4. 4
    Transmitting, reflecting, or receiving inadequate light to render timely discernment or comprehension
  5. 5
    Dull or deeper in hue; not bright or light.
  6. 6
    Ambiguously or unclearly expressed.
  7. 7
    Marked by or conducted with secrecy.
  8. 8
    Marked by or conducted with secrecy.
  9. 9
    Without moral or spiritual light; sinister, malevolent, malign.
  10. 10
    Conducive to hopelessness; depressing or bleak.
  11. 11
    Lacking progress in science or the arts.
  12. 12
    Extremely sad, depressing, or somber, typically due to, or marked by, a tragic or undesirable event.
  13. 13
    With emphasis placed on the unpleasant and macabre aspects of life; said of a work of fiction, a work of nonfiction presented in narrative form, or a portion of either.
  14. 14
    Off the air; not transmitting.

Etymology

From Middle English derk, from Old English deorc, from Proto-West Germanic *derk (“dark”), of uncertain origin, but possibly from Proto-Indo-European *dʰerg- (“dim, dull”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰer- (“dull, dirty”).

Synonyms

blearcaliginouscimmeriancrepusculardarkdarksomedarklingdimdimpsydingydullduskyfuliginousgloomyinfernalleadenlightlessmirksomemurkymurksomeobscureshadysombersombrousstygiansunlessswarthytenebrosetenebroustwilightishumbrageousunilluminated

Antonyms

brightglowinglightlitluminousluminiferousradiantshiningsunny

This word in other languages

oscuro(Español)obscur(Français)dunkel(Deutsch)escuro(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: adrk,dakr,darkk,darrk,ddark,drak

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of dark - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

adrk2dakr2darkk1darrk1ddark1drak2
Edit distance from "dark"

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 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "dark"?
"dark" is spelled D-A-R-K. The IPA pronunciation is /dɑːk/.
What does "dark" mean?
As an adjective, "dark" means: Having an absolute or (more often) relative lack of light.
What words are commonly confused with "dark"?
"dark" is commonly confused with "Dr", "day", "dry". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "dark"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "dark" is /dɑːk/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "dark"?
From Middle English derk, from Old English deorc, from Proto-West Germanic *derk (“dark”), of uncertain origin, but possibly from Proto-Indo-European *dʰerg- (“dim, dull”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰer- (“dull, dirty”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
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 “dark”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is D-A-R-K - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /dɑːk/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “Dr” - see the side-by-side comparison. dark vs Dr
  • 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.

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

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