Pronunciation: [ˈɜːk] (IPA) 
The word "irk" is spelled with three letters: i-r-k. It is pronounced with the IPA phonetic transcription of /ɜːk/. The first sound is "er" which is pronounced with an open mid-central unrounded vowel, followed by the "k" sound which is a voiceless velar plosive. "Irk" means to annoy or irritate, and it is a useful and concise word in everyday language. It is important to spell it correctly to avoid any confusion or miscommunication.
Irk is a verb that refers to the act of annoying, irritating, or bothering someone, causing them to feel a sense of frustration, impatience, or discomfort. It is a word used to describe a feeling of vexation or irritation, often resulting from someone or something's actions, behaviors, or presence that is perceived as tiresome, bothersome, or exasperating.
When something irks a person, it often disrupts their peace of mind or tranquility, causing them to feel annoyed or bothered. This annoyance can stem from various factors, such as repetitive and monotonous tasks, intrusive behavior, or constant noise. For instance, the sound of nails scratching on a chalkboard may irk an individual, provoking a strong negative reaction.
The verb "irk" emphasizes the mild to moderate level of annoyance or irritation felt by individuals when faced with a particular situation. It is often used to describe minor irritations rather than major sources of anger or fury. Moreover, it denotes a sense of inconvenience, disturbance, or nuisance that affects one's mental or emotional state.
The term "irk" is also frequently employed colloquially and informally, reflecting everyday frustrations or nuisances that can arise in various situations. It is an expression commonly used to convey the feeling of being vexed or bothered by something or someone, without necessarily indicating significant distress or anger.
To dull one's inclination to action; to tire or become weary; to make impatient; to annoy-used impersonally.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "irk" originated in Middle English, around the 15th century. Its etymology can be traced back to the Old Norse word "yrkja" or "yrkia", which meant "to work". However, over time, the meaning of "irk" shifted from "work" to "weary with work" or "to tire out". Eventually, it evolved further to mean "annoy" or "irritate", as it is commonly used today.
