# Kiev

> English word · Proper noun · IPA /ˈkiːɛv/ · frequency rank #15,442

## Definitions
1. Alternative form of Kyiv:
2. Alternative form of Kyiv:
3. Alternative form of Kyiv:
4. Synonym of Kievan Rus: a former principality in Europe centered on Kyiv.

## Etymology
From Russian Ки́ев (Kíjev), from Old East Slavic Кꙑевъ (Kyjevŭ), which folk-etymology derives from the name of city's legendary founder Kyi. Other proposals derive it from Proto-Slavic *kyjь (“stick, club, hammer”) (compare to Russian кий (kij)). See also at the article about Old East Slavic Кꙑевъ (Kyjevŭ).

## Easily confused with
- **Kim** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kiev-vs-kim)
- **kit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kiev-vs-kit)
- **kin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kiev-vs-kin)
- **kip** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kiev-vs-kip)
- **Kik** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kiev-vs-kik)
- **kind** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kiev-vs-kind)
- **knew** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kiev-vs-knew)
- **king** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kiev-vs-king)
- **kill** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kiev-vs-kill)
- **kiss** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kiev-vs-kiss)
- **knee** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kiev-vs-knee)
- **kirk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kiev-vs-kirk)
- **kits** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kiev-vs-kits)
- **kite** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kiev-vs-kite)
- **kiwi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kiev-vs-kiwi)
- **kink** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kiev-vs-kink)
- **Kira** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kiev-vs-kira)
- **kilo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kiev-vs-kilo)
- **kiln** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kiev-vs-kiln)
- **kiki** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kiev-vs-kiki)

## Common misspellings (5)
`ikev`, `keiv`, `kievv`, `kive`, `kkiev`

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