Dorcas

/ˈdɔːkəs/

//ˈdɔːkəs// name

"dorcas" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“Dorcas” is an uncommon English word, ranked #57,983 in English word frequency and used as a proper noun.

#57,983
frequency rank, English
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A woman who is said, in the Bible, to have been restored to life by Peter.

Key facts for Dorcas
PropertyValue
HeadwordDorcas
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechProper noun
IPA/ˈdɔːkəs/
Letters6
Frequency rank#57,983
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “Dorcas” 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). Dorcas 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 Dorcas is 6 letters long, classified as a proper noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈdɔːkəs/. Corpus data places it at rank #57,983 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for Dorcas, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. 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: From Ancient Greek δορκάς (dorkás, “gazelle”), translation of Tabitha in the Bible. The correct English form is Dorcas, spelled D-O-R-C-A-S.

Definition

  1. 1
    A woman who is said, in the Bible, to have been restored to life by Peter.
  2. 2
    A female given name from Ancient Greek of biblical origin.
  3. 3
    Used attributively of a ladies' association within the church in order to make and distribute clothes for the poor.

Etymology

From Ancient Greek δορκάς (dorkás, “gazelle”), translation of Tabitha in the Bible.

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 "Dorcas"?
"Dorcas" is spelled D-O-R-C-A-S. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈdɔːkəs/.
What does "Dorcas" mean?
As a proper noun, "Dorcas" means: A woman who is said, in the Bible, to have been restored to life by Peter.
How do you pronounce "Dorcas"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "Dorcas" is /ˈdɔːkəs/. 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 "Dorcas"?
From Ancient Greek δορκάς (dorkás, “gazelle”), translation of Tabitha in the Bible. 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 “Dorcas”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is D-O-R-C-A-S - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈdɔːkəs/ (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.

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

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