# sprinkle

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈspɹɪŋkəl/ · frequency rank #17,497

## Definitions
1. To cause (a substance) to fall in fine drops (for a liquid substance) or small pieces (for a solid substance).
2. To cover (an object) by sprinkling a substance on to it.
3. To drip in fine drops, sometimes sporadically.
4. To rain very lightly outside.
5. To baptize by the application of a few drops, or a small quantity, of water; hence, to cleanse; to purify.

## Etymology
From Middle English sprenkelen, sprynklen, from Middle Dutch sprenkelen, equivalent to sprink + -le (frequentative suffix). Cognate with Dutch sprenkelen (“to sprinkle”), German Low German sprenkeln (“to sprinkle; dapple”), German sprenkeln (“to sprinkle”).

## Easily confused with
- **sprinkler** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sprinkle-vs-sprinkler)
- **sprinkles** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sprinkle-vs-sprinkles)
- **spindle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spindle-vs-sprinkle)

## Common misspellings (13)
`psrinkle`, `spirnkle`, `spprinkle`, `spriknle`, `sprinkel`, `sprinkkle`, `sprinklle`, `sprinlke`, `sprinnkle`, `sprnikle`, `sprrinkle`, `srpinkle`, `ssprinkle`

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