clonk: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Informal, Onomatopoeic
Quick answer
What does “clonk” mean?
A dull, hollow, heavy, metallic, or wooden thud or clunk.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A dull, hollow, heavy, metallic, or wooden thud or clunk.
An onomatopoeic word representing the sound of two solid objects hitting each other, often with a lack of precision or elegance. Informally, it can also mean to hit someone, or be used as an exclamation for the sound.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more prevalent in British English. 'Clunk' is a more frequent near-synonym in American English, though 'clonk' is understood.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties, suggesting a dull impact.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but marginally higher in British English.
Grammar
How to Use “clonk” in a Sentence
There was a clonk.The engine made a clonk.I heard a clonk.He clonked his head.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clonk” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He clonked the ball with the bat.
- Mind you don't clonk your head on the low beam.
American English
- She clonked the wrench against the engine block.
- I accidentally clonked my coffee mug on the table.
adverb
British English
- The book landed clonk on the floor.
- It hit clonk against the wall.
American English
- The rock fell clonk into the mud.
- The hood shut clonk.
adjective
British English
- It made a clonking noise.
- We heard a clonk sound from the attic.
American English
- There's a clonking sound coming from the suspension.
- A single clonk noise echoed.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potentially in informal engineering/mechanical reports: 'A concerning clonk from the machinery.'
Academic
Very rare, except in linguistics discussing onomatopoeia.
Everyday
Informal description of a sound: 'The pipe fell with a clonk.'
Technical
Used in automotive or mechanical diagnostics to describe a specific type of fault noise.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clonk”
- Confusing 'clonk' (dull, heavy) with 'clang' (loud, resonant, metallic) or 'click' (light, sharp).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a real, established onomatopoeic word found in dictionaries, used to represent a specific dull, heavy impact sound.
'Clonk' and 'clunk' are very similar, often interchangeable, both implying a hollow, metallic or wooden dull sound. 'Thud' is broader, describing any dull, heavy sound, often of something soft(er) or solid hitting a surface.
Yes, informally. It means to hit or be hit with a dull sound (e.g., 'He clonked his head on the doorframe').
No, it is informal and highly contextual, used primarily for descriptive or onomatopoeic effect.
A dull, hollow, heavy, metallic, or wooden thud or clunk.
Clonk: in British English it is pronounced /klɒŋk/, and in American English it is pronounced /klɑːŋk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “go clonk (informal: to stop working suddenly)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CLONK rhymes with DONK; both are short, heavy, dull sounds.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOUND IS PHYSICAL IMPACT (The sound is conceptualised as the object itself hitting).
Practice
Quiz
Which situation is most likely to produce a 'clonk'?