kindling
/ˈkɪnd.lɪŋ/noun, adjective, verb
kindling is spelled K-I-N-D-L-I-N-G: 8 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 3 million words in written English, the 47,633rd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, kindling means “Small pieces of wood and twigs used to start a fire” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of kindling is kindlings.
How many letters and syllables are in kindling?
| Letters | 8: K-I-N-D-L-I-N-G |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 3 million words; the 47,633rd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is kindling?
Kindling appears about once in every 3 million words in written English, the 47,633rd 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 kindling?
- /ˈkɪnd.lɪŋ/
Kindling has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-kindling.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of kindling
- kindlings plural
- more kindling comparative
- most kindling superlative
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does kindling mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
Small pieces of wood and twigs used to start a fire.
Go and collect some kindling.
- 2
The act by which something is kindled.
December 14, 1784, Hester Rogers, letter to the Rev. Mr. Fletcher The kindlings of love which had been felt before, now became a flame in every believing soul; and when fallen on our knees, the power of God descended of a truth […]
adjective
- 1
Illuminated, lit.
verb
- 1
present participle and gerund of kindle
Despite the damp wood, he had no trouble kindling a fire.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Kindling in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense pieces of wood and twigs used to start a fire:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | petit bois |
| German | Anmachholz, Anzündholz, Kleinholz |
| Spanish | astillas |
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 kindling come from?
From kindle + -ing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).