dinky
/ˈdɪŋki/adjective, noun
dinky is spelled D-I-N-K-Y: 5 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 45,363rd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, dinky means “Tiny and cute; small and attractive” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in dinky?
| Letters | 5: D-I-N-K-Y |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 2 million words; the 45,363rd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is dinky?
Dinky appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 45,363rd 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 dinky?
- /ˈdɪŋki/
Dinky has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-dinky.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of dinky
- dinkier comparative
- dinkiest superlative
- dinkies plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does dinky mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
UKinformalTiny and cute; small and attractive.
- 2
USinformalTiny and insignificant; small and undesirable.
They stayed in a dinky hotel room, but they had a great trip.
noun
- 1
A dinky thing.
- 2
A small mine car; especially, a small coal car.
- 3
slangA person in a relationship with a double income and no kids.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Dinky in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | mignon, croquignolet |
| German | schnuckelig, niedlich , klein und schäbig, klein und mies |
| Spanish | minúsculo |
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 dinky come from?
1780-90; compare Scots dink (“neatly dressed, trim”) (of obscure origin); sense shift perhaps: trim > dainty > small > insignificant; + -y.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).