anklung: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (Specialist/Rare)Specialist/Technical/Formal
Quick answer
What does “anklung” mean?
A portable bamboo musical instrument from Indonesia, consisting of tuned bamboo tubes arranged in a frame, played by shaking.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A portable bamboo musical instrument from Indonesia, consisting of tuned bamboo tubes arranged in a frame, played by shaking.
Refers specifically to the traditional Indonesian percussion instrument of the Angklung family. It produces sound when the player shakes or taps the instrument, causing the tuned bamboo tubes to vibrate against each other. It's often used in ensemble performances.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference. The term is equally rare and technical in both varieties of English.
Connotations
Cultural specificity, traditional music, Southeast Asian heritage.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in all contexts; usage is confined to specialist texts or cultural reports.
Grammar
How to Use “anklung” in a Sentence
play [the/an] anklunglisten to [the/an] anklungan anklung made of bambooVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “anklung” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The anklung orchestra performed a traditional piece.
- He specialises in anklung craftsmanship.
American English
- The anklung ensemble's rhythm was captivating.
- She studied anklung construction techniques.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in ethnomusicology, anthropology, and Southeast Asian cultural studies papers.
Everyday
Almost never encountered; only in specific cultural discussions or world music events.
Technical
Used in organology (the study of musical instruments) to classify it as a shaken idiophone of the Sundanese people.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “anklung”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “anklung”
- Misspelling as 'angklung' (this is also correct, but 'anklung' is a common romanization).
- Confusing it with a xylophone or marimba.
- Using it as a countable noun without an article ('He plays anklung' should be 'He plays the anklung').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they refer to the same instrument. 'Angklung' is the more precise Sundanese/Indonesian spelling, while 'anklung' is a common romanized variant.
It is played by holding the frame in one hand and shaking or tapping the instrument with the other hand, causing the suspended bamboo tubes to vibrate and sound.
Typically, no. A single anklung frame usually produces only one or two notes. To play melodies, an ensemble of players, each with different notes, must coordinate their shaking.
In contexts related to world music, Indonesian culture, ethnomusicology studies, or UNESCO cultural heritage lists. It is not part of general English vocabulary.
A portable bamboo musical instrument from Indonesia, consisting of tuned bamboo tubes arranged in a frame, played by shaking.
Anklung is usually specialist/technical/formal in register.
Anklung: in British English it is pronounced /ˈaŋklʊŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɑːŋklʊŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'ankle' + 'lung' – imagine shaking your ankle to play a bamboo instrument you blow with your lungs? (It's not accurate, but the odd image helps recall the word.)
Conceptual Metaphor
The anklung is a VIBRATING COMMUNITY – each tube has a single note, and harmony is only achieved by the collective shaking of many players working together.
Practice
Quiz
What is an 'anklung' primarily made from?