Nouns That Start With K

Updated June 4, 2021
nouns that start with k
  • DESCRIPTION
    nouns that start with K
  • SOURCE
    Bullet_Chained / iStock / Getty Images Plus
  • PERMISSION
    Used under Getty Images license

The letter K stands tall somewhere around the middle of the alphabet. It may not be the most popular letter in the bunch, but it’s still doing better than X, Y, and Z.

From kaleidoscopes to kazoos, nouns that start with K can add a little bit of color and life to your next piece of writing. Who knows? Maybe one of the nouns below will be the kicker to your next piece of writing.

What Is a Noun?

In its simplest form, a noun is defined as a person, place, thing, or idea. They're often preceded by articles, including "a," "an," and "the." Nouns typically function as the subject of a sentence. For example, "The ketchup is expired."

Nouns also work as the object of a sentence. That means they'll come after the verb. For example, "You are free to enter the kingdom." Nouns can also be names, including people, cities, and more.

50 Nouns Starting With K

The letter K is an interesting one. It may not be as prominent as, say, the letter A, but it certainly serves its purpose. When’s the last time you found yourself in a kerfuffle or you spotted a kestrel in the sky? Let’s take a look at 50 nouns that start with K and see which ones you’d like to add to your repertoire.

  1. Kaleidoscope - a tube with mirrors and glass you can turn and create different patterns
  2. Kangaroo - a hopping animal from Australia with a long tail
  3. Karma - the destiny you earn through your actions and behavior
  4. Kayak - a light, slender boat with pointed ends propelled by a paddle
  5. Kazoo - a toy musical instrument that vibrates to give a buzzing quality to tones
  6. Keenness - the quality of being astute
  7. Keeper - one that has the charge or care of something
  8. Keepsake - an object given by a person and retained in memory
  9. Keg - a small barrel
  10. Kennel - a place where dogs are bred or kept
  11. Kenya - a country in Africa on the Indian Ocean
  12. Kerbside - the side of the road, along which a kerb runs; a variant of “curbside”
  13. Kerfuffle - a state of confusion or disorder
  14. Kernel - a grain or seed
  15. Kestrel - a small, reddish-gray European falcon that hovers in the air
  16. Ketchup - a condiment consisting of smooth-textured sauce made from tomatoes
  17. Kettle - a metal pot of other container used for boiling
  18. Keyboard - a set of keys on a computer
  19. Keychain - a small chain or strap for holding keys
  20. Khaki - a sturdy, light brown cloth
  21. Kickback - a bribe or incentive paid to someone who helped you make money
  22. Kicker - one who kicks
  23. Kidnapper - a person who took a person against their will
  24. Kidney - an organ in the body that filters waste in the form of urine
  25. Killer - a person, animal, or thing that kills habitually or wantonly
  26. Kiln - a furnace for drying, burning, or baking something
  27. Kilogram - a unit of measure equal to 1,000 grams or about 2.2 pounds
  28. Kilt - a knee-length skirt with deep pleats, usually of a tartan wool
  29. Kindness - the act of being caring or warm-spirited
  30. Kingdom - a country or location ruled by a monarch
  31. Kingpin - the main or essential person or thing
  32. Kinship - a family relationship or other close relationship
  33. Kiosk - a small booth where newspapers, magazines, and other related items are sold
  34. Kiss - a touching of lips to someone or something
  35. Kitchen - a room in home where food is cooked or prepared
  36. Kite - a lightweight piece of fabric attached to a string that’s flown in the air
  37. Klaxon - an electric horn with a loud, shrill sound
  38. Kleptocracy - a corrupt political regime characterized by widespread theft of the nation’s wealth and resources
  39. Kleptomania - an abnormal, persistent impulse to steal
  40. Klutz - a clumsy, awkward person
  41. Kneejerk - an automatic response to something
  42. Knife - a tool with a sharp blade and a handle used for cutting
  43. Knockout - a blow that knocks out an opponent
  44. Knowledge - what is learned or understood
  45. Knoll - a small hill or mound
  46. Knuckle - a joint of the finger
  47. Koala - an Australian animal with thick, gray fur, sharp claws, and large, tufted ears
  48. Korean - a person born or living in Korea
  49. Kudos - glory or praise for an achievement
  50. kumquat - an orange-colored, oval fruit the size of a small plum with sour pulp
Advertisement

Types of Nouns

Nouns wear many hats. In fact, there are over 10 different types of nouns. Let’s start with proper nouns. If a noun is referring to a person or place, they're most likely acting as a proper noun (e.g. Wade, Savannah, Alabama, Spain, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa). An example of that would be, "She’s moving from Savannah to Spain."

The opposite of a proper noun is a common noun. These nouns refer to general, unspecified things. In the example above, Savannah and Spain are proper nouns. But, if that line read, "She’s moving from her old city to a new country," you'd know we were dealing with common nouns. They’re neither capitalized nor specific.

Other categories include compound nouns (e.g., checkout and truckful), countable nouns, possessive nouns, and pronouns. It's also common to see both nouns and pronouns in a single sentence: "Lexi expressed just how important the locket was to her."

Advertisement

10 Example Sentences with K

There were some good ones in that list, right? How many novels have you read recently that focused on kleptocracy or featured kumquats as the lead character’s favorite fruit?

Let’s take a look at 10 sample sentences where the K-words are hard at work. Click on the link in each sentence to see more example sentences containing that K-noun:

  1. The entire premise of the book is that karma is real.
  2. That gold ring is her favorite keepsake from her mom.
  3. I can’t get this kernel of popcorn out of my teeth!
  4. Turn the kettle on for tea, please.
  5. Daffodil tea is great for your kidneys.
  6. Since Jamie was a Highlander, he always wore a kilt.
  7. Tony Soprano was a kingpin in New Jersey.
  8. That puppy is the cutest little klutz.
  9. The boxer won the match by knockout.
  10. I hope I can hold a koala at the zoo today.
Advertisement

K-Words Galore

Nouns aren't the only words that begin with K. Visit WordFinder by YourDictionary to discover a long list of words that start with the letter K that's arranged by the number of letters each word has. You can even adjust the list to see only terms of a certain list, or ones that begin or end with certain letters. Another option is to see words that include certain letters. You're sure to enjoy building your vocabulary of words that begin with this letter.

Kilns and Kilts

K-words are a great addition to an already-robust vocabulary. Perhaps your next short story can feature a Scottish Highlander wearing a kilt, firing up the kiln to roast last night’s kill. If not, you can create a kingdom suffering from the woes of kleptocracy (that gets saved by a kilt-wearing Highlander). Either way, this is a great letter to have in your back pocket for a rainy day. If you’re ready to walk on the wild side, then be sure to throw in a couple nouns that start with N!