# kink

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈkɪŋk/ · frequency rank #22,132

## Definitions
1. To laugh loudly.
2. To gasp for breath as in a severe fit of coughing.

## Etymology
From Middle English kinken, kynken, from Old English *cincian (attested in cincung), from Proto-West Germanic *kinkōn, from Proto-Germanic *kinkōną (“to laugh”), from Proto-Indo-European *gang- (“to mock, jeer, deride”), related to Old English canc (“jeering, scorn, derision”). Cognate with Dutch kinken (“to kink, cough”).

## Easily confused with
- **kk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kink-vs-kk)
- **kit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kink-vs-kit)
- **kun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kink-vs-kun)
- **KKK** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kink-vs-kkk)
- **kip** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kink-vs-kip)
- **Kok** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kink-vs-kok)
- **kno** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kink-vs-kno)
- **kiss** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kink-vs-kiss)
- **Kong** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kink-vs-kong)
- **kirk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kink-vs-kirk)
- **kits** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kink-vs-kits)
- **kite** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kink-vs-kite)
- **kiwi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kink-vs-kiwi)
- **Kira** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kink-vs-kira)
- **Kona** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kink-vs-kona)
- **Kita** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kink-vs-kita)
- **kino** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kink-vs-kino)
- **kook** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kink-vs-kook)
- **kono** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kink-vs-kono)
- **Kitt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kink-vs-kitt)

## Common misspellings (6)
`iknk`, `kikn`, `kinkk`, `kinnk`, `kkink`, `knik`

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