# knack

> English word · Noun · IPA /næk/ · frequency rank #20,682

## Definitions
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.

## Etymology
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.

## Easily confused with
- **knock** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/knack-vs-knock)
- **Knapp** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/knack-vs-knapp)
- **Knicks** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/knack-vs-knicks)
- **knocks** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/knack-vs-knocks)
- **kick** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/kick-vs-knack)

## Common misspellings (8)
`kanck`, `kknack`, `knacck`, `knackk`, `knakc`, `kncak`, `knnack`, `nkack`

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