Dunfermline

/dʌnˈfɜːɹmlɪn/

//dʌnˈfɜːɹmlɪn// name

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

"dunfermline" is a 11-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“Dunfermline” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #37,431 in English word frequency and used as a proper noun.

#37,431
frequency rank, English
11
letters
17
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A city and former royal burgh of Fife council area, Scotland (OS grid ref NT0987); The former capital of Scotland.

Key facts for Dunfermline
PropertyValue
HeadwordDunfermline
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechProper noun
IPA/dʌnˈfɜːɹmlɪn/
Letters11
Frequency rank#37,431
Misspellings tracked17
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “Dunfermline” 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). Dunfermline 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 Dunfermline is 11 letters long, classified as a proper noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /dʌnˈfɜːɹmlɪn/. Corpus data places it at rank #37,431 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.

Our generated misspelling index lists 17 likely wrong-spelling variants for Dunfermline, with forms such as "ddunfermline", "dnufermline", and "dufnermline". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Scottish Gaelic Dùn Phàrlain, the first element being from dùn (“fortification”), and the rest of uncertain origin, possibly from an alteration of the river Lyne Burn, from linne (“waterfall, pool”) + bùrn (“water”). The correct English form is Dunfermline, spelled D-U-N-F-E-R-M-L-I-N-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    A city and former royal burgh of Fife council area, Scotland (OS grid ref NT0987); The former capital of Scotland.
  2. 2
    A former local government district in Fife Region (which superseded the historic county) between 1975 and 1996.
  3. 3
    A village in Fulton County, Illinois, United States, first settled by people from Dunfermline, Fife.

Etymology

From Scottish Gaelic Dùn Phàrlain, the first element being from dùn (“fortification”), and the rest of uncertain origin, possibly from an alteration of the river Lyne Burn, from linne (“waterfall, pool”) + bùrn (“water”).

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ddunfermline,dnufermline,dufnermline,dunefrmline,dunfemrline,dunferlmine,dunfermilne,dunfermlien,dunfermlinne,dunfermlline,dunfermlnie,dunfermmline,dunferrmline,dunffermline,dunfremline,dunnfermline,udnfermline

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of Dunfermline - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ddunfermline1dnufermline2dufnermline2dunefrmline2dunfemrline2dunferlmine2dunfermilne2dunfermlien2
Edit distance from "Dunfermline"

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 "Dunfermline"?
"Dunfermline" is spelled D-U-N-F-E-R-M-L-I-N-E. The IPA pronunciation is /dʌnˈfɜːɹmlɪn/.
What does "Dunfermline" mean?
As a proper noun, "Dunfermline" means: A city and former royal burgh of Fife council area, Scotland (OS grid ref NT0987); The former capital of Scotland.
What are common misspellings of "Dunfermline"?
Common misspellings include "ddunfermline", "dnufermline", "dufnermline", "dunefrmline", "dunfemrline". The correct spelling is "Dunfermline".
How do you pronounce "Dunfermline"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "Dunfermline" is /dʌnˈfɜːɹmlɪn/. 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 "Dunfermline"?
From Scottish Gaelic Dùn Phàrlain, the first element being from dùn (“fortification”), and the rest of uncertain origin, possibly from an alteration of the river Lyne Burn, from linne (“waterfall, pool”) + bùrn (“water”). 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 “Dunfermline”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is D-U-N-F-E-R-M-L-I-N-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /dʌnˈfɜːɹmlɪn/ (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