K Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/k/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Letter or symbol

Definition

The eleventh letter of the modern English alphabet, often used to represent the sound /k/ and used in many words, including keys, keep, and keen.

Examples

• I keep the keys in my bag.
• The sound of the bell was keen and shrill.

Synonyms

• C

Etymology

The modern letter K originated from the Greek letter Κ (kappa), which was adopted into Latin as C and K, and eventually evolved into the modern English letter K.

Usage Notes

The letter K is often used in words that begin with the /k/ sound, such as key, keep, and keen.

Cultural References

K is a significant letter in many cultures, representing the sound of a horse’s gallop or the pitch of a musical note.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

• K to 5 refers to a range of years, from kindergarten to fifth grade.

Related Words or Phrases

• Letter
• Symbol

Collocations

• Keeper
• Key

Frequency of Use

The letter K is used in approximately 4% of all words in the English language.

Common Misspellings

• Ka
• Ke