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Chiken vs. Chicken: Mastering the Correct Spelling

Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on March 7, 2024
"Chiken" is an incorrect spelling; the correct spelling is "chicken" which refers to a domesticated bird often raised for its meat or eggs.

Which is correct: Chiken or Chicken

How to spell Chicken?

Chiken is Incorrect

Chicken is Correct

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Key Differences

Think of "chicken" ending in "en" like "hen," which is a female chicken.
Associate "chicken" with common words ending in "-en" like "kitchen," where chicken is often cooked.
Remember "chicken" has the same number of 'c's as "cluck," a sound chickens make.
Use the mnemonic "Can Hens In Coops Kick Every Night?" to remember the spelling "chicken."
Visualize the word "chicken" split into "chick" (a baby chicken) and "en."
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Correct usage of Chicken

The farm raises chiken.
The farm raises chicken.
He doesn't eat chiken.
He doesn't eat chicken.
We're having chiken for dinner.
We're having chicken for dinner.
I love fried chiken.
I love fried chicken.
She's allergic to chiken.
She's allergic to chicken.

Chicken Definitions

Informally, a person who is afraid to do something.
He was called a chicken for not trying the spicy challenge.
A bird raised for eggs and meat.
The farmer has fifty chickens in his coop.
The flesh of the chicken used as food.
Chicken is a popular choice for dinner around the world.
A dare or challenge to perform a risky act.
The teens played a game of chicken with their bikes.
Used in sports slang to describe someone avoiding competition.
The player was dubbed a chicken for avoiding the match.
A common domesticated fowl (Gallus domesticus) widely raised for meat and eggs and believed to be descended from the jungle fowl G. gallus.
Any of various similar or related birds.

Chicken Sentences

The chicken laid an egg this morning.
My favorite meal is grilled chicken with vegetables.
Chicken tenders are easier for kids to eat.
She learned how to make chicken soup from her grandmother.
She makes a delicious chicken curry.
The chef specializes in Italian chicken dishes.
Chicken nuggets are popular among children.
The recipe calls for two pounds of chicken breast.
The storybook was about a little chicken who got lost.
The chicken salad has apples and walnuts in it.
He prefers his chicken roasted with herbs.
He's really good at making barbecue chicken.
They learned how to butcher a chicken in cooking class.
For lunch, we're having chicken sandwiches.
We bought a chicken coop for our new pets.
She brought chicken and rice casserole to the potluck.
In the game, you have to catch the runaway chicken.
The science project was about the life cycle of a chicken.
They celebrated with a chicken dinner after the win.
Chicken pot pie is a comforting winter meal.
The chicken parmesan was the best he'd ever had.
They ordered chicken wings while watching the game.
They made chicken stock for the soup base.

Chicken Idioms & Phrases

Running around like a headless chicken

Acting in a frantic or aimless manner.
Before the deadline, the team was running around like headless chickens.

A chicken and egg situation

A situation where it's hard to tell which of two things happened first or caused the other.
Deciding whether poor mental health causes social isolation or vice versa is a chicken and egg situation.

Don't count your chickens before they hatch

Don't assume success before it happens.
He was planning what to do with his winnings before the lottery draw, but I told him not to count his chickens before they hatch.

Chicken out

To decide not to do something because of fear.
He was going to try bungee jumping but chickened out at the last minute.

To chicken scratch

To write poorly or illegibly.
His handwriting is so bad, it looks like chicken scratch.

Spring chicken

A young person; often used in the negative to mean no longer young.
I'm no spring chicken anymore, so I'll leave the running to you younger folks.

Like a chicken with its head cut off

To act in a wildly chaotic manner.
I've been running around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to get everything done.

No spring chicken

Not young anymore.
I might be no spring chicken, but I still enjoy learning new things.

To be chicken-livered

To be cowardly or timid.
He was too chicken-livered to stand up to the bully.

A game of chicken

A dangerous contest or confrontation where the first to withdraw is the loser.
The two drivers engaged in a game of chicken, neither willing to pull away first.

FAQs

Why is it called chicken?

It's called chicken from the Old English 'cicen' or 'cycen', originally denoting a young fowl.

Which preposition is used with chicken?

The preposition "with" is commonly used, as in "chicken with rice".

What is the pronunciation of chicken?

Chicken is pronounced as /ˈtʃɪkɪn/.

What is the singular form of chicken?

The singular form is "chicken".

Which conjunction is used with chicken?

The conjunction "and" is often used, as in "chicken and vegetables".

What is the root word of chicken?

The root word is the Old English 'cicen' or 'cycen'.

Is chicken a noun or adjective?

Chicken is primarily a noun but can function as an adjective when describing food dishes, like "chicken soup".

Which vowel is used before chicken?

The vowel "i" is used before "cken" in chicken.

What is the verb form of chicken?

Chicken doesn't have a traditional verb form related to the bird itself, but informally, "to chicken out" means to withdraw from something due to fear.

How is chicken used in a sentence?

"We raised several chickens in our backyard for fresh eggs."

Which article is used with chicken?

Both "a" and "the" can be used, depending on the context.

Is chicken an adverb?

No, chicken is not an adverb.

Is chicken a countable noun?

Yes, chicken is a countable noun.

Is chicken an abstract noun?

No, chicken is a concrete noun.

Is chicken a collective noun?

No, but "flock" can be used as a collective noun for chickens.

Is the chicken term a metaphor?

Yes, calling someone a "chicken" can be a metaphor for saying they are scared.

How do we divide chicken into syllables?

Chicken is divided into syllables as "chick-en".

What is another term for chicken?

Another term for chicken could be "poultry" in the context of food.

What is the plural form of chicken?

The plural form is "chickens".

Is chicken a negative or positive word?

Chicken is neutral, but can have a negative connotation when used to describe someone as cowardly.

Is the word chicken imperative?

The word chicken itself is not imperative.

Is chicken a vowel or consonant?

The word chicken starts with a consonant.

How many syllables are in chicken?

There are two syllables in "chicken".

What is a stressed syllable in chicken?

The first syllable "chick-" is stressed in "chicken".

What part of speech is chicken?

Chicken is a noun and can be used as an adjective.

What is the opposite of chicken?

In the context of bravery, the opposite of "chicken" (coward) could be "brave" or "courageous".

What is the first form of chicken?

As a noun, chicken does not have verb forms. The term itself is the base form.

What is the second form of chicken?

Not applicable as chicken does not have verb forms.

What is the third form of chicken?

Not applicable for the same reason.

Which determiner is used with chicken?

Determiners like "the", "a", "some", and "any" can be used with chicken.
About Author
Written by
Janet White
Janet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie Carlson
Aimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.

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