Whether you’re writing a school paper or just curious, this guide to things that start with “D” will help you find useful words across a variety of categories. From parts of speech to foods and animals, here’s a list of interesting words that all begin with “D.”

Table of Contents
- Parts of Speech that Start with D
- Encouraging and Positive Words that Start with D
- Short Words that Start with D
- Foods that Start with D
- Instruments that Start with D
- Occupations and Hobbies that Start with D
- Countries and Places that Start with D
- Languages that Start with D
- Science Words that Start with D
- Animals that Start with D
- Plants that Start with D
- Also See
Parts of Speech that Start with D
Nouns
- Dog: A domesticated animal, known as man’s best friend.
- Desk: A piece of furniture used for writing or working.
- Diamond: A precious gemstone, often used in jewelry.
- Dish: A container used for serving or preparing food.
- Doctor: A person who is trained to treat illnesses and injuries.
- Door: A movable barrier used to open and close an entrance.
- Desert: A dry, barren area of land with little rainfall.
Verbs
- Dance: To move rhythmically to music.
- Dive: To plunge headfirst into water.
- Discover: To find or learn something previously unknown.
- Decide: To make a choice or come to a conclusion.
- Deliver: To bring something to a person or location.
- Doubt: To feel uncertain or unsure about something.
- Donate: To give something, often money or goods, to help others.
- Discuss: To talk about something with others.
Adjectives
- Delightful: Something that gives great pleasure or joy.
- Daring: Bold or courageous.
- Diligent: Showing care and effort in work or duties.
- Dim: Not bright or clear.
- Durable: Able to withstand wear, pressure, or damage.
- Dizzy: Feeling unsteady or lightheaded.
- Doubtful: Uncertain or skeptical.
- Delicate: Easily broken or damaged; fragile.
- Dangerous: Likely to cause harm or injury.
Encouraging and Positive Words that Start with D
- Determined: Having a strong will to accomplish something.
- Dedicated: Committed to a task or purpose.
- Dependable: Trustworthy and reliable.
- Daring: Bold and adventurous.
- Diligent: Hardworking and attentive.
- Dynamic: Energetic and full of life.
- Devoted: Loyal and loving.
- Dazzling: Brilliant or amazing in appearance.
Short Words that Start with D
- Day: A 24-hour period.
- Dig: To break up or move earth.
- Dip: To lower something briefly into a liquid.
- Dot: A small round mark or spot.
- Dad: A term for father.
- Den: A wild animal’s home, or a cozy room.
- Dam: A barrier built to hold back water.
- Die: To stop living.
- Dew: Water droplets that form on cool surfaces overnight.
Foods that Start with D
- Dates: Sweet, chewy fruits from the date palm tree.
- Donut: A fried dough pastry, often glazed or topped with icing.
- Dumplings: Dough wrapped around a filling, often steamed or fried.
- Dill: An herb used to flavor dishes, especially pickles.
- Duck: A type of poultry, often used in cooking.
- Dragonfruit: A tropical fruit with bright pink skin and white or red flesh.
- Danish: A type of sweet, flaky pastry.
- Durian: A tropical fruit known for its strong smell.
- Dandelion Greens: Edible greens often used in salads.
- Deviled Eggs: Hard-boiled eggs with the yolks mixed with mayonnaise and mustard.
Instruments that Start with D
- Didgeridoo: A wind instrument from Australia, made from a long hollow branch.
- Double Bass: The largest and lowest-pitched string instrument in an orchestra.
- Dulcimer: A string instrument played by striking the strings with hammers or fingers.
- Djembe: A West African drum played with bare hands.
- Doumbek: A goblet-shaped drum often used in Middle Eastern music.
- Daf: A large frame drum used in Persian and Kurdish music.
- Dobro: A type of guitar with a metal resonator built into the body.
- Diatonic Accordion: An accordion that only plays a limited number of notes.
Occupations and Hobbies that Start with D
- Doctor: A medical professional who treats people for illnesses or injuries.
- Dentist: A professional who cares for teeth and gums.
- Designer: A person who creates visual or functional concepts, like fashion or interior design.
- Diver: Someone who swims underwater, often professionally for exploration or search and rescue.
- Dancer: A person who performs dances, either as a hobby or professionally.
- Detective: A person who investigates and solves crimes.
- Data Analyst: Someone who interprets complex data to help make decisions.
- Decorator: A person who designs and beautifies spaces, such as homes or events.
Countries and Places that Start with D
- Denmark: A country in Northern Europe, known for its rich history and modern design.
- Dominican Republic: A Caribbean country known for its beautiful beaches and resorts.
- Djibouti: A small country in the Horn of Africa, located on the Red Sea.
- Dubai: A city in the United Arab Emirates, famous for its modern architecture and luxury lifestyle.
- Detroit: A major city in the United States known for its automobile industry.
- Dublin: The capital city of Ireland, known for its literary history and landmarks.
- Dallas: A large city in Texas, known for its oil industry and cultural attractions.
- Durban: A coastal city in South Africa known for its beaches and subtropical climate.
- Doha: The capital city of Qatar, known for its futuristic skyline and cultural heritage.
- Damascus: The capital of Syria, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
Languages that Start with D
- Danish: The official language of Denmark.
- Dutch: Spoken primarily in the Netherlands and Belgium.
- Dari: One of the two official languages of Afghanistan.
- Dzongkha: The official language of Bhutan.
- Dinka: A language spoken in South Sudan.
- Divehi: The official language of the Maldives.
- Dakota: A Native American language spoken by the Dakota people.
- Dogri: A language spoken in northern India.
- Dholuo: A language spoken by the Luo people in Kenya and Tanzania.
- Dhivehi: A language spoken in the Maldives.
Science Words that Start with D
- DNA: The molecule that carries genetic information in living organisms.
- Density: The amount of mass in a given volume of a substance.
- Digestion: The process by which food is broken down into nutrients.
- Diffusion: The movement of particles from an area of higher concentration to one of lower concentration.
- Domain: In biology, the highest level of classification for living organisms, above kingdom.
- Deposition: The process in which sediments, soil, and rocks are added to a landform.
- Dendrite: A branch-like structure of a neuron that receives electrical signals.
- Declination: The angle between the equatorial plane and the celestial object, used in astronomy.
- Decibel: A unit used to measure the intensity of sound.
Animals that Start with D
- Deer: A hoofed mammal found in forests and grasslands.
- Dolphin: A highly intelligent marine mammal known for its playful behavior.
- Duck: A waterfowl commonly found in ponds and lakes.
- Dragonfly: An insect known for its fast flight and vibrant colors.
- Dingo: A wild dog native to Australia.
Plants that Start with D
- Dandelion: A bright yellow flower often considered a weed, but with edible leaves.
- Dahlia: A colorful flower that blooms in a variety of shapes and sizes.
- Date Palm: A tree that produces sweet, edible fruits known as dates.
- Daffodil: A yellow spring flower with a trumpet-shaped center.
- Douglas Fir: A large evergreen tree commonly used as Christmas trees.
- Dieffenbachia: A popular houseplant with large, green, variegated leaves.
- Dill: A feathery herb commonly used in cooking for its flavor.
- Delphinium: A tall, flowering plant with spiky blooms in shades of blue, purple, and white.
This comprehensive list of things that start with “D” will help students gather information for school projects or research papers. Whether you’re looking for nouns, foods, or scientific terms, the letter “D” has a wide range of options!
Adjectives that Start with D

Winter Words that Start with D

Things That Start with D

Christmas Words that Start with D

Gabrielle Kotkov is an AMI-trained 3-6 Montessorian and educational consultant. She has a Master's Degree in Child Studies and is certified in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). She is particularly interested in the intersection between Montessori education and multilingualism, which led her to create the Multilingual Montessori website and podcast. Gabrielle has taught in schools in NYC, Sicily, London, and Austin, and is currently on the teaching faculty of the West Side Montessori School Teacher Education Program, an AMS training center in NYC.