kerning

K5E1R1N1I1N1G2
US/ˈkɝnɪŋ/UK/ˈkɜːnɪŋ/

noun

The adjustment of the horizontal space between selected pairs of glyphs in a typeface.

OriginFrench carne →
UncommonScrabble 12
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Meanings

nounkerning (countable and uncountable, plural kernings)

plural kernings

  1. countableuncountablemediaThe adjustment of the horizontal space between selected pairs of glyphs in a typeface.
verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of kern

Origin

  1. Frenchcarne“corner”
  2. Englishkerning

From kern (“part of a letter which extends into the space used by another letter”) + -ing, from French carne (“corner”).

More words from French

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan interlletratge
  • interlletratgeadjustment of the horizontal space between selected pairs of glyphs
Chinese Mandarin 字偶距調節 /字偶距调节
  • 字偶距調節 /字偶距调节 (zì'ǒujù tiáojié)adjustment of the horizontal space between selected pairs of glyphs
Dutch overhang
  • overhangadjustment of the horizontal space between selected pairs of glyphs
Finnish parivälistys, kirjainparivälistys
  • parivälistysadjustment of the horizontal space between selected pairs of glyphs
  • kirjainparivälistysadjustment of the horizontal space between selected pairs of glyphs
  • välistysadjustment of the horizontal space between selected pairs of glyphs
French crénage
  • crénageadjustment of the horizontal space between selected pairs of glyphs
German Unterschneidung
  • Unterschneidungadjustment of the horizontal space between selected pairs of glyphs
Hungarian egalizálás, alávágás
  • egalizálásadjustment of the horizontal space between selected pairs of glyphs
  • alávágásadjustment of the horizontal space between selected pairs of glyphs
  • betűköz-igazításadjustment of the horizontal space between selected pairs of glyphs
Indonesian kerning
  • kerningadjustment of the horizontal space between selected pairs of glyphs
Irish coirneáil
  • coirneáiladjustment of the horizontal space between selected pairs of glyphs
Italian crenatura
  • crenaturaadjustment of the horizontal space between selected pairs of glyphs
Māori whakatata pū
  • whakatata pūadjustment of the horizontal space between selected pairs of glyphs
Portuguese entreletra compensada, compensação
  • entreletra compensadaadjustment of the horizontal space between selected pairs of glyphs
  • compensaçãoadjustment of the horizontal space between selected pairs of glyphs
  • espaçamento entreletras compensadoadjustment of the horizontal space between selected pairs of glyphs
  • espacejamento entreletras compensadoadjustment of the horizontal space between selected pairs of glyphs
  • kerningadjustment of the horizontal space between selected pairs of glyphs
Spanish cranaje, interletraje
  • cranajeadjustment of the horizontal space between selected pairs of glyphs
  • interletrajeadjustment of the horizontal space between selected pairs of glyphs
  • cranadjustment of the horizontal space between selected pairs of glyphs

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with kerning

learningconcerningturningburningreturningyearningspurningadaptive learningNew Learning
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

kerning. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kerning

MLA

“kerning.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kerning. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “kerning,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kerning.

Source: kerning on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.