knack
/næk/noun, verb
knack is spelled K-N-A-C-K: 5 letters and one syllable. It appears 1.8 times per million words in written English, the 20,629th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, knack means “A readiness in performance; aptness at doing something” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of knack is knacks.
How many letters and syllables are in knack?
| Letters | 5: K-N-A-C-K |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 1 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 1.8 times per million words; the 20,629th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Sounds like |
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 knack?
Knack appears 1.8 times per million words in written English, the 20,629th 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 knack?
- /næk/
Knack has one syllable (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: En-us-knack.ogg, Knack.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with knack
Sounds like: nack (Wiktionary's homophone list; some hold only in some accents).
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Forms of knack
- knacks plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- knacking participle, present
- knacked participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does knack mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A readiness in performance; aptness at doing something.
- 2
A petty contrivance; a toy.
- 3
Something performed, or to be done, requiring aptness and dexterity.
verb
- 1
UKobsoleteTo crack; to make a sharp, abrupt noise; to chink.
- 2
To speak affectedly.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Knack in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | chic |
| German | Gabe, Talent, Geschick, Fertigkeit, Kunstfertigkeit, Kunst |
| Portuguese | talento |
| Spanish | aptitud, pegarle a , chisme , truco |
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 knack come from?
Late Middle English, use as "special skill" from 1580. Possibly from 14th century Middle English krak, knack (“a sharp sound or blow”), knakke, knakken, from Middle Low German and of imitative origin, similar to Dutch knak (“snap, crack”). Latter cognate to German knacken (“to crack”). See also crack.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).