lanky
lank·y/ˈleɪ̯ŋki/adjective
lanky is spelled L-A-N-K-Y: 5 letters and 2 syllables (lank·y). It appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 40,267th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a derogatory adjective, lanky means “Tall, slim, and rather ungraceful or awkward” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in lanky?
| Letters | 5: L-A-N-K-Y |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: lank·y |
| In writing | about once in every 2 million words; the 40,267th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is lanky?
Lanky appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 40,267th 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 lanky?
- /ˈlæŋk.i/
- [ˈlæŋk.ɪi̯]
- US /ˈleɪ̯ŋki/
Lanky has 2 syllables, split lank·y in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-lanky.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with lanky?
2 words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as lanky from its last stressed vowel (/eɪŋki/):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of lanky
- lankier comparative
- lankiest superlative
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does lanky mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
derogatoryinformalTall, slim, and rather ungraceful or awkward.
tall and lanky
noun
- 1
Someone from Lancashire.
adjective
- 1
From Lancashire or having distinctive Lancashire traits.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Lanky in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense tall, slim:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | dégingandé |
| German | schlaksig |
| Portuguese | esguio |
| Spanish | larguirucho |
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 lanky come from?
From lank + -y.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).