bonk: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, colloquial, slang
Quick answer
What does “bonk” mean?
To hit someone or something, producing a dull, hollow sound.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To hit someone or something, producing a dull, hollow sound.
1. (Informal, chiefly British) To have sex. 2. (Informal, especially in cycling/running) To experience sudden fatigue and loss of energy, often due to glycogen depletion (also 'hit the wall'). 3. (Informal) To strike or collide with something, often the head.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The sexual meaning is primarily British/Commonwealth. The athletic meaning ('hit the wall') is understood internationally in sports contexts. The basic 'hit' meaning is shared but less common in American English.
Connotations
In British English, the sexual connotation is often the first association, making the word risky in formal contexts. In American English, it more readily suggests a light, comical hit or a sports term.
Frequency
Higher frequency in British English due to the common slang meaning. In American English, it is relatively low-frequency and mostly found in specific contexts (sports, comic sounds).
Grammar
How to Use “bonk” in a Sentence
[Subject] bonk [Object] (on the [body part])[Subject] bonk (into/against) [Object][Athlete] bonk (during [event])Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bonk” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He bonked his head on the cupboard.
- They spent the weekend bonking.
- I'm worried I'll bonk at mile 20 of the marathon.
American English
- The ball bonked off the wall.
- She bonked him playfully with the newspaper.
- Many runners bonk if they don't fuel properly.
adverb
British English
- The door shut bonk on his fingers. (rare, poetic)
American English
- The melon landed bonk on the ground. (rare, poetic)
adjective
British English
- It was a bonk-filled comedy.
- He had a bonk-on-the-head moment.
American English
- He made a bonk sound with his mouth.
- The bonk noise was surprisingly loud.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Not used, except perhaps in informal discussions of linguistics or sports science.
Everyday
Used informally, primarily in British English with caution due to sexual slang. In US, used for comic effect for a light hit.
Technical
Used in sports science and coaching to describe glycogen depletion and sudden fatigue in endurance athletes.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bonk”
- Using it in a formal context.
- Using the British sexual meaning with an American audience who may not understand it.
- Overusing it as a synonym for 'hit'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on context and region. In British English, its primary slang meaning is informal/vulgar for sex. In other contexts (a light hit, sports fatigue), it is merely informal and not offensive.
No, it is too informal and polysemous. Use precise terms like 'collide', 'strike', 'experience glycogen depletion', or 'have sexual intercourse' depending on your intended meaning.
'Bonk' is more specific and onomatopoeic, suggesting a dull, hollow sound upon impact. It is also much more informal and carries additional slang meanings that 'hit' does not.
Context is everything. If the topic is sports, it likely means 'hit the wall'. If it's a British comedy, it might be the sexual meaning. If it's describing a minor accident with a sound, it's the basic 'hit' meaning.
To hit someone or something, producing a dull, hollow sound.
Bonk is usually informal, colloquial, slang in register.
Bonk: in British English it is pronounced /bɒŋk/, and in American English it is pronounced /bɑːŋk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to hit the bonk (sports)”
- “bonk on the head”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the sound 'BONK' a cartoon character makes when they hit their head on a low doorframe.
Conceptual Metaphor
PHYSICAL CONTACT IS SOUND (Onomatopoeic); SEXUAL INTERCOURSE IS A PHYSICAL IMPACT (Slang); FATIGUE IS A COLLISION (Sports).
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is 'bonk' most commonly used as a slang term for sexual intercourse?