risk
/ɹɪsk/noun, verb
risk is spelled R-I-S-K: 4 letters and one syllable. It appears 112 times per million words in written English, the 951st most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, risk means “The probability of a negative outcome to a decision or event” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of risk is risks.
How many letters and syllables are in risk?
| Letters | 4: R-I-S-K |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 1 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 112 times per million words; the 951st most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Sounds like | |
| Same letters |
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); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is risk?
Risk appears 112 times per million words in written English, the 951st 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 risk?
- /ɹɪsk/
Risk 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-risk.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with risk
Sounds like: RISC (Wiktionary's homophone list; some hold only in some accents).
Also written: risque.
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
What rhymes with risk?
No other word on PlainSpell ends in the same sounds as risk.
Spelled with the same letters in another order: kris.
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 risk
- risks plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- risking participle, present
- risked participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does risk mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
The probability of a negative outcome to a decision or event.
There is risk of being brutalized, arrested, imprisoned and tortured, all because I want you to know the truth about this matter.
- 2
The magnitude of possible loss consequent to a decision or event.
- 3
The potential negative effect of an event, determined by multiplying the likelihood of the event occurring with its magnitude should it occur.
If there is a 25% chance of running over schedule, costing you a $100 out of your own pocket, that might be a risk you are willing to take. But if you have a 5% chance of running overschedule, knowing that there is a $10,000 penalty, you mi
- 4
A possible adverse event or outcome.
- 5
A type of adverse event covered under an insurance policy.
- 6
A thing (from the perspective of how likely or unlikely it is to cause an adverse effect).
That man is going to be a big risk once he's out of prison.
- 7
A borrower (such as a mortgage-holder or person with a credit card).
A good credit rating indicates the customer is a desirable risk.
- 8
A financial product (typically an investment).
Subprime mortgages are poor risks; especially for a pension scheme.
verb
- 1
To incur risk of (an unwanted or negative outcome).
These people are putting themselves in danger by physically being on or near to the railway lines and risking serious injury.
- 2
To incur risk of harming or jeopardizing.
England captain David Beckham has warned Wayne Rooney not to risk his long-term future by rushing his return from injury.
- 3
To incur risk as a result of (doing something).
After coming to New York, I decided to risk cycling again.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Risk in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | risque |
| German | Risiko, Bedrohung , riskieren |
| Portuguese | risco , arriscar, pôr em risco |
| Spanish | riesgo, risco , arriesgar, chansear, poner en riesgo , peligrar |
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.