# kayak

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈkaɪˌæk/ · frequency rank #21,252

## Definitions
1. A type of small boat, covered over by a surface deck, powered by the occupant or occupants using a double-bladed paddle in a sitting position, from a hole in the surface deck.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Inuktitut ᖃᔭᖅ (qayaq, “hunter's boat”) (Inuvialuktun), from Proto-Eskimo *qayaʁ. Compare Greenlandic qajaq and Yup'ik qayaq.

## Easily confused with
- **kya** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kayak-vs-kya)
- **Kaye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kayak-vs-kaye)
- **kodak** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kayak-vs-kodak)
- **Kayla** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kayak-vs-kayla)
- **kazan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kayak-vs-kazan)
- **Kazakh** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kayak-vs-kazakh)
- **kay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kay-vs-kayak)
- **kara** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kara-vs-kayak)
- **kaya** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kaya-vs-kayak)
- **kana** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kana-vs-kayak)
- **Kala** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kala-vs-kayak)
- **kata** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kata-vs-kayak)
- **kama** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kama-vs-kayak)
- **kaka** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kaka-vs-kayak)
- **Karan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/karan-vs-kayak)
- **Kamal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kamal-vs-kayak)
- **Katya** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/katya-vs-kayak)
- **Kauai** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kauai-vs-kayak)
- **Kagan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kagan-vs-kayak)

## Common misspellings (7)
`akyak`, `kaayk`, `kayakk`, `kayka`, `kayyak`, `kkayak`, `kyaak`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/kayak