# twinkle

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈtwɪŋ.kəl/ · frequency rank #23,419

## Definitions
1. To shine with a flickering light; to glimmer.
2. To be bright with delight.
3. To bat, blink or wink the eyes.
4. To flit to and fro.

## Etymology
From Middle English twinclen, twynclen, from Old English twinclian (“to twinkle”), equivalent to twink (“to wink; blink; twinkle”) + -le (frequentative suffix). Compare German zwinkern (“to wink; twinkle”).

## Easily confused with
- **twine** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/twine-vs-twinkle)
- **twink** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/twink-vs-twinkle)
- **tickle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tickle-vs-twinkle)
- **tingle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tingle-vs-twinkle)
- **trickle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/trickle-vs-twinkle)

## Common misspellings (11)
`tiwnkle`, `ttwinkle`, `twiknle`, `twinkel`, `twinkkle`, `twinklle`, `twinlke`, `twinnkle`, `twnikle`, `twwinkle`, `wtinkle`

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