clapperboard: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical, Film Industry
Quick answer
What does “clapperboard” mean?
A device used in filmmaking to synchronize picture and sound, consisting of two hinged boards that are clapped together at the start of a take.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A device used in filmmaking to synchronize picture and sound, consisting of two hinged boards that are clapped together at the start of a take.
Any similar marking system used to identify takes in audio-visual production; by extension, the slate containing scene information displayed before the clap.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both 'clapperboard' and 'slate' are used in both varieties. 'Clapperboard' is slightly more common in UK film/TV terminology, while 'slate' is more prevalent in the US, but there is significant overlap.
Connotations
In the US, 'slate' can sound more professional or colloquial within the industry. 'Clapperboard' can sound slightly more technical or formal.
Frequency
'Slate' is the higher-frequency term in American industry parlance. 'Clapperboard' is well-understood but less frequently the first choice.
Grammar
How to Use “clapperboard” in a Sentence
[Director/AD] called for the clapperboard.[Camera Operator] waited for the clapperboard to be marked.[Sound Recordist] synced to the clapperboard's clap.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clapperboard” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The second assistant director held the clapperboard steady in the rain.
- We need a new clapperboard; the hinge on this one is loose.
American English
- The script supervisor noted the take number on the clapperboard.
- He clapped the clapperboard shut with a loud crack.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare outside of film/TV production company contexts.
Academic
Used in film studies, media production courses.
Everyday
Understood by film/TV enthusiasts; otherwise low frequency.
Technical
Core term in cinematography, sound engineering, and editing.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clapperboard”
- Using 'clapperboard' to refer to just the information slate without the clapping mechanism.
- Pronouncing it as 'clap-board' (which is a type of siding).
- Spelling as 'clapper board' (should be one word or hyphenated).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Often used interchangeably, but technically, the clapperboard is the device that makes the clap, while the slate is the board displaying the scene information. They are usually combined into one unit.
It's named for the clapping sound made when the hinged stick (the clapper) strikes the board. This sharp sound and visual of the sticks meeting creates a synchronization point.
Yes, but alongside digital versions. Physical clapperboards are valued for tradition, reliability, and the clear audio-visual sync point they provide.
Typically includes production title, director, cinematographer, scene number, take number, date, and whether it is day/night (D/N) or interior/exterior (INT/EXT).
A device used in filmmaking to synchronize picture and sound, consisting of two hinged boards that are clapped together at the start of a take.
Clapperboard is usually technical, film industry in register.
Clapperboard: in British English it is pronounced /ˈklæp.ə.bɔːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈklæp.ɚ.bɔːrd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “That's a wrap! (Said after the final clapperboard of a production)”
- “Clapperboard in sight (Ready to start filming)”
- “From the top (From the beginning, marked by the clapperboard)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CLAPperboard: it makes a CLAP sound to start a scene, like an audience clapping when the show begins.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE START OF CREATION (The clap initiates the recorded reality of the scene).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary technical function of a clapperboard?