kirke

Kirke is a term in Scandinavian languages that means church. In Danish, kirke is the standard word for a Christian church. In Norwegian Bokmål, kirke serves the same function, while in Norwegian Nynorsk the common term is kyrkje. The word frequently appears in place names and parish names, reflecting historical church sites and the role of churches in settlement patterns. As a toponymic element, kirke often indicates the presence or heritage of a church at or near the named location.

The word derives from Old Norse kirkja, ultimately from Late Latin ecclesia, and is cognate with the English word kirk. The modern Danish and Bokmål forms illustrate the common European path from Latin ecclesia through medieval church terminology into vernacular usage.

Kirke is also used as a surname in some English-speaking countries. Surnames bearing Kirke, or its variants such as Kirk, often originate from toponymic or occupational sources associated with a church.

Related terms include kirk, a Scots word for church, and Kirche, the German word for church.