13558 words found
K'iche is a native Mesoamerican language of the Mayan family, spoken by communities in Guatemala. It is an ergative, polysynthetic language with complex morphophonology and a rich set of glottal and ejective consonants. The term K'iche’ (often written with an apostrophe as Kʼicheʼ) denotes both the language and its speakers in the region where it is most widely used.
KGB is the acronym for the Soviet-era security service, typically used as a proper noun. In contemporary usage it refers to this organization or as a historical or political shorthand. The term is spoken as individual letters, not as a word, and is often accompanied by context about intelligence, espionage, or Cold War history.
Kabul is the capital city of Afghanistan, a proper noun used for a specific geopolitical location. It denotes the city itself, its history, and its cultural significance, and is commonly referred to in geographic, political, and historical contexts. The term is pronounced with stress on the first syllable and commonly realized with a light, unstressed final vowel in many varieties of English.
Kabyle is a noun referring to a member of the Kabyle people or to the Kabyle language, a Berber language spoken in northern Algeria. It can denote cultural identity or regional heritage. The term is used in academic, ethnolinguistic, and regional contexts and may appear in discussions of North African languages and communities.
Kadai is a noun used in Indian cooking to refer to a heavy, rounded wok with a wide mouth, typically used for frying and sautéing. It denotes a specific type of pan and is often recognized in Indian kitchens and culinary contexts. The term is also used to describe dishes prepared in such a pan. In English, it mostly appears in culinary writing and recipe instructions.
Kaddish is a Jewish prayer traditionally recited in remembrance of the deceased. It is a formal, liturgical expression of praise and affirmation of God, often sung or chanted in a mournful but resolute tone. The term also refers to the synagogue service in which the prayer is recited, sometimes including a post‑funeral ritual of mourning.
Kaffir is a historically charged, pejorative term for a Black African person in certain regions. In contemporary usage it is extremely offensive and considered hate speech in many contexts; it is best avoided. The word’s pronunciation is straightforward in isolation, but its social weight demands careful, respectful handling or complete avoidance in most conversations.
Kaftan is a loose, traditionally styled robe worn in many Middle Eastern and North African cultures. As a noun, it denotes a long, often ornamented garment with wide sleeves, adapted into various regional fashions. In English usage, it also refers broadly to a similar robe worn in warm climates, including casual and ceremonial contexts.
Kahlua is a coffee-flavored liqueur of Mexican origin, traditionally served in drinks like White Russians and Black Russians. It’s sweet, syrupy, and aromatic, with a distinct coffee aroma and velvety mouthfeel. As a proper noun brand name, it’s pronounced with two syllables in common usage, emphasizing the second syllable, and is widely recognized in cocktail culture and menus.
Kahoolawe is a Hawaiian island used primarily as a nature reserve; the name is often encountered in discussions of Hawaiian geography, history, and eroded toponymy. In pronunciation, it is two or more syllables with a stress pattern that emphasizes a flowing, melodic cadenced vowel sequence common to Hawaiian words. It is typically treated as a proper noun in English and appears in academic, tourism, and preservation contexts.
Kahului is a proper noun (a place name) used for a city on the island of Maui, Hawaii. In pronunciation, it typically stresses the second syllable and is pronounced with a Hawaiian-influenced vowel sequence, yielding a smooth, syllabic flow. The term is often encountered in travel, geography, and local discourse in Hawaiian contexts.
Kai-Lan is a verb in English usage, typically a proper noun-based verb form or a coined term used in brand contexts or niche communities. It conveys action associated with the Kai-Lan name, often as a stylistic or cultural verb. In practice, it’s recognizable in spoken language when referring to the named entity or activity described by the term, with emphasis on own- name pronunciation and contextual meaning.
Kailua-Kona is the combined name of two adjacent towns on the Big Island of Hawaii, used collectively to refer to the Kona coast area. The term is often heard in tourism, geography, and local discourse, denoting distinct but linked communities with shared cultural and economic ties. It is pronounced as a compound place name reflecting Hawaiian phonology.
Kairos (pronounced /ˈkaɪrɒs/ in US/UK; /ˈkaɪɹɒs/ in some US dictionaries) is an ancient Greek term meaning the opportune moment or the right timing for action. It denotes a qualitative moment in time, distinct from chronos, the quantitative passage of time. In modern usage, it often refers to a propitious, decisive moment for action or decision.
Kaiser is a noun meaning a European monarch, historically the German emperor. In modern usage, it often appears in discussions of history, politics, or as a surname; it can also refer to the titular leader of an empire. The term carries imperial, formal, and historical connotations and is frequently encountered in academic or journalistic contexts.
Kaiser Permanente is a large American integrated managed care consortium. It is a proper noun used as a healthcare provider name and employer. The phrase combines two family names (Kaiser) and a medical plan name (Presbyterian-era expansion), functioning as a singular organizational brand and entity in health services.
Kaiser Wilhelm II is a historical title and name often used to refer to the German Emperor who ruled from 1888 to 1918; the phrase is spoken as a proper noun in English contexts, with stress on the first syllables of each component. As a multi-word name, it presents a sequence of distinct Germanic and English phonemes that can challenge English speakers, especially in the final 'II' element. In usage, it functions as a formal appellation or historical reference rather than a common verb.
Kaitlyn Dever is an American actress known for roles in film and television. The name Kaitlyn is a modern form of Katherine, with emphasis on the first syllable; Dever is pronounced with a light, final 'er' as in 'never.' The combined name is commonly heard in entertainment contexts and requires attention to the initial consonant cluster and the American vowel sounds to avoid mispronunciations.
Kakapo is a rare, nocturnal parrot native to New Zealand, notable for being flightless and critically endangered. The term refers to the species (Strigops habroptilus) and is used widely in conservation contexts as well as ornithology. In everyday use, it denotes the bird itself and related conservation discussions.
Kalamata is a proper noun referring to a large, dark purple olive from Kalamata, Greece, or to olives of that variety used in Mediterranean cuisine. It can also describe the city’s olive oil and products associated with that region. In everyday use, it denotes a specific type of olive and its culinary or geographic associations. Traditionally, it’s pronounced with Greek-influenced vowels and a clear stress pattern that distinguishes the name from generic descriptors.
Kalamazoo is a proper noun referring to a city in Michigan, USA, commonly used to denote the place itself or as a place-name in cultural references. As a two-syllable proper noun with an American English feel, it is often used in informal contexts and proper naming without article usage. It is not a general term beyond its geographic reference and well-known proper noun status.
Kalanchoe is a succulent plant genus known for fleshy leaves and vibrant flowers. The word, borrowed from a Chinese plant name, is used mainly in horticulture and botany, often in botanical or gardening contexts. It has a two-syllable rhythm in English, with emphasis typically on the second syllable, producing a distinctive, multi-syllabic pronunciation that reflects its exotic origin.
