Kentucky

English

Map of US highlighting Kentucky

Etymology

Uncertain; possibly from an Iroquoian word meaning "prairie"; compare Mohawk kenhtà:ke (“the meadow”), Seneca gëdá'geh (“at the field”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kənˈtʌki/

  • Audio (US):

    (file)

• (Received Pronunciation, General Australian, New Zealand) IPA^(key): /kɛnˈtʌki/
• (Northern England, Ireland) IPA^(key): /kɛnˈtʊki/
• Rhymes: -ʌki

Proper noun

Kentucky

2. A state of the United States. Capital: Frankfort. Largest city: Louisville. Formally known as the Commonwealth of Kentucky, one of four such states known as Commonwealths.

   Synonyms: Bluegrass State, Corn-cracker State, Dark and Bloody Ground State, Hemp State, Kaintuck, Tobacco State

   • 2024 February 7, Edward-Isaac Dovere, “Harris set to host Democratic governors this weekend to discuss 2024 campaign”, in CNN‎^[1]:

     On the invitation list: Govs. Andy Beshear of Kentucky, Tim Walz of Minnesota, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Tony Evers of Wisconsin, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Roy Cooper of North Carolina, Wes Moore of Maryland and Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico.

   • 2025 February 19, Jordan Valinsky, “KFC is leaving Kentucky”, in CNN Business‎^[2]:

     The chicken chain’s parent company, Yum Brands, announced Tuesday that KFC’s corporate headquarters is leaving Kentucky for Texas, joining sister brand Pizza Hut’s offices in the Dallas suburb of Plano.

3. A village in Uralla Shire, on the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, Australia.
5. Ellipsis of University of Kentucky.

   Synonyms: UK, UKY

   Coordinate terms: Kentucky State, KSU (not to be confused)

7. A tributary of the Ohio River in Kentucky, United States.
8. An unincorporated community in Munising Township, Michigan.

Derived terms

• Dutch-Kentucky syndrome
• Kenfucky
• Kensucky
• Kentuckian
• Kentucky Admiral
• Kentucky coffeetree
• Kentucky coffee tree, Kentucky coffee-tree
• Kentucky Colonel
• Kentucky rifle
• Kentucky warbler
• Kentucky windage
• KFC
• KY, Ky.
• Pennsyltucky

Translations

US state

• Arabic: كِنْتَاكِي m (kintākī)
• Bulgarian: Кентъ́ки m (Kentǎ́ki)
• Catalan: Kentucky m
• Cherokee: ᎬᏅᏓᎩ (gvnvdagi)
• Chinese:

  Cantonese: 肯德基 (hang² taap³ gei¹), 肯塔基 (hang² taap³ gei¹)

  Mandarin: 肯塔基 (zh) (Kěntǎjī)

• Czech: Kentucky (cs)
• Danish: Kentucky
• Esperanto: Kentukio
• Finnish: Kentucky (fi)
• French: Kentucky (fr) m
• Galician: Kentucky (gl) m
• Georgian: კენტუკი (ḳenṭuḳi)
• German: Kentucky (de) n
• Greek: Κεντάκι (el) n (Kentáki)
• Hindi: केंटकी (kẽṭkī), कॅण्टकी (kĕṇṭakī)
• Hungarian: Kentucky (hu)
• Italian: Kentucky (it) m
• Japanese: ケンタッキー (Kentakkī), ケンタッキー州 (Kentakkī-shū)
• Khmer: កេនតាក់គី (keentakkii)
• Korean: 켄터키 (Kenteoki)
• Lao: ເຄນທັກກີ (khēn thak kī)
• Latin: Kentukia f, Kentuckia f, Chentuchia f
• Limburgish: Kentucky n
• Macedonian: Кента́ки m (Kentáki)
• Navajo: Kentákii hahoodzo
• Occitan: Kentucky (oc) m
• Polish: Kentucky (pl) n
• Portuguese: Kentucky (pt) m
• Romanian: Kentucky (ro)
• Russian: Кенту́кки (ru) m (Kentúkki)
• Sardinian: Kentucky m
• Spanish: Kentucky (es) m
• Telugu: కెంటకీ (keṇṭakī)
• Thai: เคนทักกี (ken-ták-gîi)
• Turkish: Kentucky
• Ukrainian: Кенту́кі m (Kentúki) Кенту́ккі m (Kentúkki) (obsolete since 2019)
• Vietnamese: Ken-tắc-ki, Ken-tấc-ki, Kentucky
• Yiddish: קענטאָקי (kentoki)

Danish

Etymology

Borrowed from English Kentucky.

Proper noun

Kentucky (genitive Kentuckys)

1. Kentucky (a state of the United States)

Finnish

Etymology

From English Kentucky.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkentɑki/, [ˈk̟e̞n̪t̪ɑ̝k̟i]
• Rhymes: -entɑki

Proper noun

Kentucky

1. Kentucky (a state of the United States)

Declension

After the pronunciation (more common):

Inflection of Kentucky (Kotus type 2/palvelu, no gradation)
nominative		Kentucky	—
genitive		Kentuckyn	—
partitive		Kentuckya	—
illative		Kentuckyyn	—
		singular	plural
nominative		Kentucky	—
accusative	nom.	Kentucky	—
	gen.	Kentuckyn
genitive		Kentuckyn	—
partitive		Kentuckya	—
inessive		Kentuckyssa	—
elative		Kentuckysta	—
illative		Kentuckyyn	—
adessive		Kentuckylla	—
ablative		Kentuckylta	—
allative		Kentuckylle	—
essive		Kentuckyna	—
translative		Kentuckyksi	—
abessive		Kentuckytta	—
instructive		—	—
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of Kentucky (Kotus type 2/palvelu, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative Kentuckyni — accusative nom. Kentuckyni — gen. Kentuckyni genitive Kentuckyni — partitive Kentuckyani — inessive Kentuckyssani — elative Kentuckystani — illative Kentuckyyni — adessive Kentuckyllani — ablative Kentuckyltani — allative Kentuckylleni — essive Kentuckynani — translative Kentuckykseni — abessive Kentuckyttani — instructive — — comitative — — second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative Kentuckysi — accusative nom. Kentuckysi — gen. Kentuckysi genitive Kentuckysi — partitive Kentuckyasi — inessive Kentuckyssasi — elative Kentuckystasi — illative Kentuckyysi — adessive Kentuckyllasi — ablative Kentuckyltasi — allative Kentuckyllesi — essive Kentuckynasi — translative Kentuckyksesi — abessive Kentuckyttasi — instructive — — comitative — — first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative Kentuckymme — accusative nom. Kentuckymme — gen. Kentuckymme genitive Kentuckymme — partitive Kentuckyamme — inessive Kentuckyssamme — elative Kentuckystamme — illative Kentuckyymme — adessive Kentuckyllamme — ablative Kentuckyltamme — allative Kentuckyllemme — essive Kentuckynamme — translative Kentuckyksemme — abessive Kentuckyttamme — instructive — — comitative — — second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative Kentuckynne — accusative nom. Kentuckynne — gen. Kentuckynne genitive Kentuckynne — partitive Kentuckyanne — inessive Kentuckyssanne — elative Kentuckystanne — illative Kentuckyynne — adessive Kentuckyllanne — ablative Kentuckyltanne — allative Kentuckyllenne — essive Kentuckynanne — translative Kentuckyksenne — abessive Kentuckyttanne — instructive — — comitative — — third-person possessor singular plural nominative Kentuckynsa — accusative nom. Kentuckynsa — gen. Kentuckynsa genitive Kentuckynsa — partitive Kentuckyaan Kentuckyansa — inessive Kentuckyssaan Kentuckyssansa — elative Kentuckystaan Kentuckystansa — illative Kentuckyynsa — adessive Kentuckyllaan Kentuckyllansa — ablative Kentuckyltaan Kentuckyltansa — allative Kentuckylleen Kentuckyllensa — essive Kentuckynaan Kentuckynansa — translative Kentuckykseen Kentuckyksensa — abessive Kentuckyttaan Kentuckyttansa — instructive — — comitative — —

After the spelling:

Inflection of Kentucky (Kotus type 2/palvelu, no gradation)
nominative		Kentucky	—
genitive		Kentuckyn	—
partitive		Kentuckyä	—
illative		Kentuckyyn	—
		singular	plural
nominative		Kentucky	—
accusative	nom.	Kentucky	—
	gen.	Kentuckyn
genitive		Kentuckyn	—
partitive		Kentuckyä	—
inessive		Kentuckyssä	—
elative		Kentuckystä	—
illative		Kentuckyyn	—
adessive		Kentuckyllä	—
ablative		Kentuckyltä	—
allative		Kentuckylle	—
essive		Kentuckynä	—
translative		Kentuckyksi	—
abessive		Kentuckyttä	—
instructive		—	—
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of Kentucky (Kotus type 2/palvelu, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative Kentuckyni — accusative nom. Kentuckyni — gen. Kentuckyni genitive Kentuckyni — partitive Kentuckyäni — inessive Kentuckyssäni — elative Kentuckystäni — illative Kentuckyyni — adessive Kentuckylläni — ablative Kentuckyltäni — allative Kentuckylleni — essive Kentuckynäni — translative Kentuckykseni — abessive Kentuckyttäni — instructive — — comitative — — second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative Kentuckysi — accusative nom. Kentuckysi — gen. Kentuckysi genitive Kentuckysi — partitive Kentuckyäsi — inessive Kentuckyssäsi — elative Kentuckystäsi — illative Kentuckyysi — adessive Kentuckylläsi — ablative Kentuckyltäsi — allative Kentuckyllesi — essive Kentuckynäsi — translative Kentuckyksesi — abessive Kentuckyttäsi — instructive — — comitative — — first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative Kentuckymme — accusative nom. Kentuckymme — gen. Kentuckymme genitive Kentuckymme — partitive Kentuckyämme — inessive Kentuckyssämme — elative Kentuckystämme — illative Kentuckyymme — adessive Kentuckyllämme — ablative Kentuckyltämme — allative Kentuckyllemme — essive Kentuckynämme — translative Kentuckyksemme — abessive Kentuckyttämme — instructive — — comitative — — second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative Kentuckynne — accusative nom. Kentuckynne — gen. Kentuckynne genitive Kentuckynne — partitive Kentuckyänne — inessive Kentuckyssänne — elative Kentuckystänne — illative Kentuckyynne — adessive Kentuckyllänne — ablative Kentuckyltänne — allative Kentuckyllenne — essive Kentuckynänne — translative Kentuckyksenne — abessive Kentuckyttänne — instructive — — comitative — — third-person possessor singular plural nominative Kentuckynsä — accusative nom. Kentuckynsä — gen. Kentuckynsä genitive Kentuckynsä — partitive Kentuckyään Kentuckyänsä — inessive Kentuckyssään Kentuckyssänsä — elative Kentuckystään Kentuckystänsä — illative Kentuckyynsä — adessive Kentuckyllään Kentuckyllänsä — ablative Kentuckyltään Kentuckyltänsä — allative Kentuckylleen Kentuckyllensä — essive Kentuckynään Kentuckynänsä — translative Kentuckykseen Kentuckyksensä — abessive Kentuckyttään Kentuckyttänsä — instructive — — comitative — —

In speech, inflects like risti.

French

Etymology

Borrowed from English Kentucky.

Pronunciation

• (Europe) IPA^(key): /kɛn.ty.ki/, /kɛn.tœ.ki/
• (Canada) IPA^(key): /kɛn.tɔ.ki/

• Audio (France):

  (file)

• Audio (France (Somain)):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: Ken‧tuc‧ky

Proper noun

Kentucky m

1. Kentucky (a state of the United States)

German

Etymology

Borrowed from English Kentucky.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kɛnˈtaki/

• Audio (Germany (Berlin)):

  (file)

Proper noun

Kentucky n (proper noun, strong, genitive Kentuckys)

1. Kentucky (a state of the United States)

Italian

Etymology

Borrowed from English Kentucky.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kenˈta.ki/
• Rhymes: -aki

Proper noun

Kentucky m

1. Kentucky (a state of the United States)

Polish

Etymology

Borrowed from English Kentucky.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kɛnˈta.ki/
• Rhymes: -aki
• Syllabification: Ken‧tu‧cky

Proper noun

Kentucky n (indeclinable)

1. Kentucky (a state of the United States)
2. Kentucky, Kentucky River (a tributary of the Ohio River in Kentucky, United States)

Further reading

• Kentucky in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Portuguese

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English Kentucky.

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /kẽˈtɐ.ki/, /kẽˈtu.ki/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /kẽˈtɐ.ki/, /kẽˈtu.ki/

Proper noun

Kentucky m

1. Kentucky (a state of the United States)

Romanian

Proper noun

Kentucky n

1. Kentucky (a state of the United States)

Slovak

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈkentaki]

Proper noun

Kentucky n (genitive singular Kentucky)

1. Kentucky (a state of the United States)

References

• “Kentucky”, in Slovníkový portál Jazykovedného ústavu Ľ. Štúra SAV [Dictionary portal of the Ľ. Štúr Institute of Linguistics, Slovak Academy of Science] (in Slovak), https://slovnik.juls.savba.sk, 2003–2025

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kenˈtaki/ [kẽn̪ˈt̪a.ki]
  • Rhymes: -aki
• IPA^(key): /kenˈtoki/ [kẽn̪ˈt̪o.ki]
  • Rhymes: -oki

Proper noun

Kentucky m

1. Kentucky (a state of the United States)

Derived terms

• kentuckiano

Further reading

• Kentucky on the Spanish Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^es