Quirky

How to spell quirky

6 letters · 2 syllables

How to pronounce quirky

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does quirky mean?

1. adjectiveHaving unusual or unconventional traits in a way that is appealing or amusing.

Quirky in a sentence

• The cafe had a quirky decor of mismatched chairs and vintage clocks.

• Her quirky sense of humour made the long meetings bearable.

Where does quirky come from?

Language of origin: Unknown

Quirky grows out of the noun quirk, which surfaced in English in the late 1500s meaning a sudden twist, turn, or peculiar trick of behaviour. The origin of quirk itself is genuinely obscure; lexicographers have never tied it firmly to a known root, and it may have begun as a piece of slang or dialect. Early uses applied it to a clever verbal twist or a subtle evasion in argument, and only later did it settle into describing an odd personal habit or unexpected detail. The adjective quirky, formed by adding the common -y ending that turns a noun into a describing word, came along later and now means charmingly odd or unconventional. Because the root is so murky, the spelling simply has to be learned; the qu- opening (always followed by a u in English) and the -irk- in the middle are the parts writers most often second-guess.

How the word is built

• quirk (a peculiar trait or sudden twist)
• -y (adjective suffix: having the quality of)