dim sum
/ˈdɪm.ˈsʌm/
"dim-sum" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“dim sum” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 7
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A Cantonese-style meal traditionally eaten in the morning or early afternoon, comprising tea and food typically placed in small steamer baskets or on small plates, and often served from carts that ...
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | dim sum |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ˈdɪm.ˈsʌm/ |
| Letters | 7 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “dim sum” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for dim sum is 7 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈdɪm.ˈsʌm/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for dim sum, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. Our dataset records no confusable match here, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.
Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Cantonese 點心／点心 (dim² sam¹), literally “to touch the heart gently; to refresh the heart”. The correct English form is dim sum, spelled D-I-M- -S-U-M.
Definition
- 1A Cantonese-style meal traditionally eaten in the morning or early afternoon, comprising tea and food typically placed in small steamer baskets or on small plates, and often served from carts that move around from table to table in a restaurant.
- 2The food served at a dim sum meal, typically including dumplings, seafood, and desserts.
Etymology
Borrowed from Cantonese 點心／点心 (dim² sam¹), literally “to touch the heart gently; to refresh the heart”.
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
How do you spell "dim sum"?
What does "dim sum" mean?
How do you pronounce "dim sum"?
What is the origin of the word "dim sum"?
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Using “dim sum”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is D-I-M- -S-U-M - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˈdɪm.ˈsʌm/ (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.