Dunkirk

/ˈdʌŋkɜː(ɹ)k/

//ˈdʌŋkɜː(ɹ)k// name

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

"dunkirk" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“Dunkirk” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #24,150 in English word frequency and used as a proper noun.

#24,150
frequency rank, English
7
letters
11
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A town in Nord department, Hauts-de-France, France.

Key facts for Dunkirk
PropertyValue
HeadwordDunkirk
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechProper noun
IPA/ˈdʌŋkɜː(ɹ)k/
Letters7
Frequency rank#24,150
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “Dunkirk” 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). Dunkirk 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 Dunkirk is 7 letters long, classified as a proper noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈdʌŋkɜː(ɹ)k/. Corpus data places it at rank #24,150 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 18 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for Dunkirk, with forms such as "ddunkirk", "dnukirk", and "duknirk". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. Our dataset records no confusable match here, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Dutch Duinkerke, from duin (“dune”) + kerk (“church”). The correct English form is Dunkirk, spelled D-U-N-K-I-R-K.

Definition

  1. 1
    A town in Nord department, Hauts-de-France, France.
  2. 2
    A place in England:
  3. 3
    A place in England:
  4. 4
    A place in England:
  5. 5
    A place in England:
  6. 6
    A place in England:
  7. 7
    A place in England:
  8. 8
    A place in England:
  9. 9
    A place in England:
  10. 10
    A place in England:
  11. 11
    A place in the United States:
  12. 12
    A place in the United States:
  13. 13
    A place in the United States:
  14. 14
    A place in the United States:
  15. 15
    A place in the United States:
  16. 16
    A place in the United States:
  17. 17
    A place in the United States:
  18. 18
    A surname.

Etymology

From Dutch Duinkerke, from duin (“dune”) + kerk (“church”).

This word in other languages

Dunkerque(Español)Dunkerque(Français)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ddunkirk,dnukirk,duknirk,dunikrk,dunkikr,dunkirkk,dunkirrk,dunkkirk,dunkrik,dunnkirk,udnkirk

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of Dunkirk - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

ddunkirk1dnukirk2duknirk2dunikrk2dunkikr2dunkirkk1dunkirrk1dunkkirk1
Edit distance from "Dunkirk"

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 "Dunkirk"?
"Dunkirk" is spelled D-U-N-K-I-R-K. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈdʌŋkɜː(ɹ)k/.
What does "Dunkirk" mean?
As a proper noun, "Dunkirk" means: A town in Nord department, Hauts-de-France, France.
What are common misspellings of "Dunkirk"?
Common misspellings include "ddunkirk", "dnukirk", "duknirk", "dunikrk", "dunkikr". The correct spelling is "Dunkirk".
How do you pronounce "Dunkirk"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "Dunkirk" is /ˈdʌŋkɜː(ɹ)k/. 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 "Dunkirk"?
From Dutch Duinkerke, from duin (“dune”) + kerk (“church”). 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 “Dunkirk”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is D-U-N-K-I-R-K - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈdʌŋkɜː(ɹ)k/ (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