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napkin

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napkin

  • /ˈnæpˌkɪn/
  • [ˈnæpˌkʰɪn]
  • /ˈnæpˌkən/
  • [ˈnæpˌkʰən]
  • [ˈnæpˌkʰn̩]

Where it comes from

From Middle English napekyn, napkyn, equivalent to nape (“cloth”) + -kin (diminutive suffix).

noun napkins

  1. A serviette; a (usually rectangular) piece of cloth or paper used at the table for wiping the mouth and hands for cleanliness while eating.
  2. South Africa, UK A nappy (UK), a diaper (American).
  3. A small scarf worn on the head by Christian women (chiefly Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox) when entering a church, as a token of modesty.
  4. Philippines, abbreviation, dated, ellipsis, in the US Ellipsis of sanitary napkin

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: serviette, diaper, nappy, table napkin, towel, pad, bag, blanket, tissue, cloth, suitcase, briefcase, rag, notes, handkerchief, wiper

Translations

Every language

noun serviette

Españolservilleta, toballeta (disused), toalleta
한국어냅킨 naepkin
日本語ナプキン napukin
中文餐巾 cānjīn, 餐巾紙 /餐巾纸 cānjīnzhǐ
हिन्दीनैपकिन naipkin, रूमाल rūmāl
Portuguêsguardanapo
Françaisserviette
DeutschServiette, Mundtuch
Italianotovagliolo, salvietta
Românășervețel
Русскийсалфе́тка salfétka
Tiếng Việtkhăn ăn
العربيةمَنْدِيل mandīl, مَنْدِيل مَائِدَة mandīl māʔida
עבריתמַפִּית mapít

noun scarf

中文圍巾 /围巾 wéijīn
Русскийшарф šarf, шаль šalʹ

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Cite this
MLA

"napkin." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/napkin. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

napkin. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/napkin

Chicago

"napkin." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/napkin.

BibTeX
@misc{napkin_2026,
  title = {napkin},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/napkin},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}