# thirst

> English word · Noun · IPA /θɜːst/ · frequency rank #12,343

## Definitions
1. A sensation of dryness in the throat associated with a craving for liquids, produced by deprivation of drink, or by some other cause (such as fear, excitement, etc.) which stops the secretion of the pharyngeal mucous membrane.
2. The condition producing the sensation of thirst.
3. A want and eager desire (for something); a craving or longing.
4. Sexual lust.

## Etymology
From Middle English thirst, thurst, from Old English þurst, from Proto-West Germanic *þurstu, from Proto-Germanic *þurstuz, from Proto-Indo-European *ters- (“dry”).
Germanic cognates include Old High German thurst, Middle High German durst, German Durst, Old Saxon thurst, Old Dutch thursti, Middle Dutch dorst, dorste, Dutch dorst, Old Norse þorsti (Swedish törst, Icelandic þorsti, Danish tørst, Norwegian tørst). Indo-European cognates include Ancient Greek τέρσομαι (térsomai), Albanian djersë (“sweat”), Sanskrit तृष्णा (tṛṣṇā, “desire; thirst”), Sanskrit तृष्यति (tṛ́ṣyati), Latin terra, Latin torridus.

## Easily confused with
- **this** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/thirst-vs-this)
- **twist** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/thirst-vs-twist)
- **thirty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/thirst-vs-thirty)
- **thrust** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/thirst-vs-thrust)
- **thirsty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/thirst-vs-thirsty)
- **third** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/third-vs-thirst)
- **theirs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/theirs-vs-thirst)
- **thirds** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/thirds-vs-thirst)

## Common misspellings (10)
`htirst`, `thhirst`, `thirrst`, `thirsst`, `thirstt`, `thirts`, `thisrt`, `thrist`, `tihrst`, `tthirst`

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