icky
/ˈɪki/adjective
icky is spelled I-C-K-Y: 4 letters. It appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 38,863rd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, icky means “Unpleasantly sticky; yucky; disgusting” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in icky?
| Letters | 4: I-C-K-Y |
|---|---|
| In writing | about once in every 2 million words; the 38,863rd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is icky?
Icky appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 38,863rd 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 icky?
- /ˈɪki/
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-icky.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of icky
- ickier comparative
- ickiest superlative
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does icky mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
informalUnpleasantly sticky; yucky; disgusting.
I stepped in something icky and it smells terrible.
- 2
informalExcessively sentimental.
- 3
informalUnwell or upset; in a bad state of mind or health.
I'm not going to work today. I just feel icky.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Icky in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | dégueulasse, dégueu, dégoûtant , cucul, mièvre, sirupeux |
| German | eklig, ekelig, fies klebrig , kitschig |
| Portuguese | meloso |
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 icky come from?
1935, American English; from icky-boo (circa 1920): sickly, nauseated; baby talk corruption of sick; from a sentimental term for jazz music.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).