pink

/ˈpɪŋk/

//ˈpɪŋk// noun

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

"pink" is a 4-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“pink” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #2,905 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#2,905
frequency rank, English
4
letters
6
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A color reminiscent of pinks, the flowers.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

pink vs PK
0% similar
pink vs pit
50% similar
pink vs pun
50% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for pink
PropertyValue
Headwordpink
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈpɪŋk/
Letters4
Frequency rank#2,905
Misspellings tracked6
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “pink” 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). pink lands here:

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

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

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for pink is 4 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈpɪŋk/. Corpus data places it at rank #2,905 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 11 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 6 likely wrong-spelling variants for pink, with forms such as "ipnk", "pikn", and "pinkk". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "PK", "pit", "pun", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: Origin uncertain; perhaps from Dutch pinken (“blink”) or the English verb pink from the same source. Perhaps from the notion of the petals being pinked. An earlier word for similar flesh-like colors, mostly displaced by pink, was incarnation. The correct English form is pink, spelled P-I-N-K.

Definition

  1. 1
    A color reminiscent of pinks, the flowers.
  2. 2
    A color reminiscent of pinks, the flowers.
  3. 3
    A color reminiscent of pinks, the flowers.
  4. 4
    Any of various flowers of that colour in the genus Dianthus, sometimes called carnations.
  5. 5
    A perfect example; excellence, perfection; the embodiment of some quality.
  6. 6
    Hunting pink; scarlet, as worn by hunters.
  7. 7
    A huntsman.
  8. 8
    One of the colour balls used in snooker, coloured pink, with a value of 6 points.
  9. 9
    An unlettered and uncultured, but relatively prosperous, member of the middle classes; compare Babbitt, bourgeoisie.
  10. 10
    Alternative form of pinko.
  11. 11
    The vagina or vulva.

Etymology

Origin uncertain; perhaps from Dutch pinken (“blink”) or the English verb pink from the same source. Perhaps from the notion of the petals being pinked. An earlier word for similar flesh-like colors, mostly displaced by pink, was incarnation.

This word in other languages

rosado(Español)rose(Français)Rosa(Deutsch)cor-de-rosa(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ipnk,pikn,pinkk,pinnk,pnik,ppink

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of pink - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

ipnk2pikn2pinkk1pinnk1pnik2ppink1
Edit distance from "pink"

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 "pink"?
"pink" is spelled P-I-N-K. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈpɪŋk/.
What does "pink" mean?
As a noun, "pink" means: A color reminiscent of pinks, the flowers.
What words are commonly confused with "pink"?
"pink" is commonly confused with "PK", "pit", "pun". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "pink"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "pink" is /ˈpɪŋk/. 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 "pink"?
Origin uncertain; perhaps from Dutch pinken (“blink”) or the English verb pink from the same source. Perhaps from the notion of the petals being pinked. An earlier word for similar flesh-like colors, mostly displaced by pink, was incarnation. 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 “pink”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is P-I-N-K - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈpɪŋk/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “PK” - see the side-by-side comparison. pink vs PK
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
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