kipper

/ˈkɪpə(ɹ)/

//ˈkɪpə(ɹ)// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"kipper" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“kipper” is uncommon English (frequency #65,237 among 9,255 “K” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#65,237
frequency rank, English
9,255
“K” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A split, salted and smoked herring or salmon.

Key facts for kipper
PropertyValue
Headwordkipper
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈkɪpə(ɹ)/
Letters6
Frequency rank#65,237
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “kipper” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). kipper lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

kipper is uncommon English at frequency #65,237 among 9,255 “K” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈkɪpə(ɹ)/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 9 senses are on record.

No misspelling variants are generated for kipper in our index, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Old English cypera (“male salmon”), perhaps related to Old English coper (“reddish-brown metal”) (see copper), on resemblance of color. Another theory connects it to kip (“sharp, hooked lower jaw of the male salmon in breeding season”), from Middle Eng… The correct English form is kipper, spelled K-I-P-P-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    A split, salted and smoked herring or salmon.
  2. 2
    A male salmon after spawning.
  3. 3
    A patrol to protect fishing boats in the Irish and North Seas against attack from the air.
  4. 4
    A torpedo.
  5. 5
    An Englishman who has moved to Australia.
  6. 6
    A young Aboriginal man who has been initiated into to the rights of manhood.
  7. 7
    A fool.
  8. 8
    A child or young person.
  9. 9
    The vagina.

Etymology

From Old English cypera (“male salmon”), perhaps related to Old English coper (“reddish-brown metal”) (see copper), on resemblance of color. Another theory connects it to kip (“sharp, hooked lower jaw of the male salmon in breeding season”), from Middle English kippen (“to seize, snatch”), but OED doubts this.

This word in other languages

Bückling(Deutsch)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "kipper"?
"kipper" is spelled K-I-P-P-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkɪpə(ɹ)/.
What does "kipper" mean?
As a noun, "kipper" means: A split, salted and smoked herring or salmon.
How do you pronounce "kipper"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "kipper" is /ˈkɪpə(ɹ)/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "kipper"?
From Old English cypera (“male salmon”), perhaps related to Old English coper (“reddish-brown metal”) (see copper), on resemblance of color. Another theory connects it to kip (“sharp, hooked lower jaw of the male salmon in breeding season”), from ... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “kipper”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is K-I-P-P-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈkɪpə(ɹ)/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Other uncommon English words near this rank

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list