ENGLISH
REFERENCE

kim

n. countable
A1 Beginner US //ˈkɪm// kim

n. a common first name for a person. It is often used for both men and women in English-speaking countries.

n. a gender-neutral given name of English origin, often a diminutive of Kimberly or Kimball. When used as a surname, it is the most common family name in Korea.


SIMPLE

Kim is my best friend from school.

CONTEXTUAL

After the meeting, Kim stayed behind to help the team organize the remaining files.

COMPLEX

While Kim is frequently a shortened form of Kimberly in Western contexts, it remains a distinct and historically significant patronymic surname within the Korean peninsula.

Etymology 1

Clipping of Kimball and Kimberley as a male name, and of Kimberley and Kimberly as a female name.

Etymology 2

From Korean 김(金) (Gim).

Usage

As a proper noun, it is always capitalized.

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