kirk
Kirk (noun) means a church, especially in Scottish and northern English usage. Example: “They walked down to the kirk every Sunday morning.”
How to use kirk
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA Scottish or Northern English word for "church," also used formally for the Church of Scotland.
Common in Scotland and northern England; rarely used in American or southern British English outside of surnames and place names.
Word forms
Kirked past tense, kirks plural, Kirks plural, Kirks singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They walked down to the _____ every Sunday morning.
Etymology
From Northern Middle English kyrke, related to Old Norse kirkja and Old English cirice — the same root that gave us "church." Kirk and church are essentially the same word arriving through different regional paths.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for kirk
See all rhymes for kirk →Frequently asked questions
What does “kirk” mean?
The word “kirk” means a church, especially in Scottish and northern English usage. In plain terms, a Scottish or Northern English word for "church," also used formally for the Church of Scotland.
How do you pronounce “kirk”?
“Kirk” is pronounced kurk (/kɜɹk/ in IPA).
How do you use “kirk” in a sentence?
Here is “kirk” used in a sentence: “They walked down to the kirk every Sunday morning.”
What part of speech is “kirk”?
“Kirk” is a noun.
Where does the word “kirk” come from?
The word “kirk” comes from Old English. From Northern Middle English kyrke, related to Old Norse kirkja and Old English cirice — the same root that gave us "church." Kirk and church are essentially the same word arriving through different regional paths.
Is “kirk” a common word?
“Kirk” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between a kirk and a church?
A kirk is simply a church, especially in Scottish and northern English usage. The word means the same thing as "church" but signals a regional or dialect variant rather than a different type of building.
Is kirk used in standard English outside Scotland?
Kirk is chiefly associated with Scottish and northern English usage rather than standard English generally. Elsewhere, "church" is the more common and widely understood term.
Is Kirk also used as a name?
While kirk as a common noun means church, especially in Scottish usage, the same spelling also appears as a surname and given name, reflecting its regional roots.
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