Do cuckoo clocks only say 'cuckoo'?

Primarily, yes. The mechanism is designed to imitate the two-note call of the common cuckoo bird. Some may have additional music or chimes.

Are cuckoo clocks considered accurate timekeepers?

Traditional mechanical cuckoo clocks are reasonably accurate if kept wound, but they are valued more for their craftsmanship and novelty than for precision, unlike modern quartz or atomic clocks.

Is it one word or two?

It is most commonly written as two words: 'cuckoo clock'. Hyphenated 'cuckoo-clock' is an older or less common variant but is still acceptable.

Can you turn off the cuckoo sound?

Yes, many models have a small lever or switch to silence the bird's call, often for nighttime, while the clock's timekeeping continues.

Is “cuckoo clock” formal?

Cuckoo clock is usually neutral; slightly informal and descriptive. in register.

How do you pronounce “cuckoo clock”?

Cuckoo clock: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkʊk.uː ˌklɒk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkʊk.u ˌklɑːk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

cuckoo clock: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

UK/ˈkʊk.uː ˌklɒk/US/ˈkʊk.u ˌklɑːk/

Neutral; slightly informal and descriptive.

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “cuckoo clock” mean?

A wall or shelf clock, often made of wood and decoratively carved, in which a small, mechanical bird emerges through a small door on the hour and makes a sound imitating the call of the cuckoo bird.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A wall or shelf clock, often made of wood and decoratively carved, in which a small, mechanical bird emerges through a small door on the hour and makes a sound imitating the call of the cuckoo bird.

Often used metonymically to represent traditional, quaint, or old-fashioned craftsmanship, particularly associated with German or Alpine culture. It can symbolize a predictable or repetitive pattern in timekeeping or behavior.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant lexical differences. The object and its name are identical. Cultural familiarity may be slightly higher in the US due to popularity as a souvenir.

Connotations

Both varieties share connotations of quaintness, tradition, and sometimes, a slightly annoying, repetitive sound. In British English, it may more strongly evoke imagery of Alpine holidays.

Frequency

Frequency is similar; it is a known cultural object but not an everyday household item in most regions.

Grammar

How to Use “cuckoo clock” in a Sentence

have a + cuckoo clockhear the + cuckoo clockwind (up) the + cuckoo clock

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

Black Forest cuckoo clockcarved wooden cuckoo clockauthentic cuckoo clocktraditional cuckoo clockpendulum on the cuckoo clock

medium

sound of the cuckoo clockchimes/calls on the houra souvenir cuckoo clockwind up the cuckoo clock

weak

large/small cuckoo clockold cuckoo clockbuy a cuckoo clockhang a cuckoo clock

Examples

Examples of “cuckoo clock” in a Sentence

verb

British English

The old clock in the hall still cuckoos reliably every hour.

American English

The novelty clock cuckooed, startling the cat.

adjective

British English

The room had a cuckoo-clock charm about it.

American English

It was a cuckoo clock repair shop tucked away in the mall.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Rarely used, except perhaps in contexts of import/export, tourism, or antique sales.

Academic

Used in cultural studies, design history, or horology (study of timekeeping) contexts.

Everyday

Common when describing home decor, souvenirs, or referencing a distinctive sound. 'My grandmother has a cuckoo clock.'

Technical

Used in horology to describe a specific type of automaton clock with a bird-call mechanism.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “cuckoo clock”

Neutral

novelty clockcarved clockchiming clock

Weak

ornate clockdecorative clockmechanical clock

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “cuckoo clock”

digital clocksilent clockmodern timepiece

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “cuckoo clock”

Misspelling as 'cucko clock' (missing a 'u'), 'cuckoo-clock' (hyphenated, though sometimes accepted). Treating it as two separate nouns in a sentence where it should be a compound: 'The cuckoo clock's bird is broken' not 'The cuckoo's clock...'

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: Primarily, yes. The mechanism is designed to imitate the two-note call of the common cuckoo bird. Some may have additional music or chimes.
: Traditional mechanical cuckoo clocks are reasonably accurate if kept wound, but they are valued more for their craftsmanship and novelty than for precision, unlike modern quartz or atomic clocks.
: It is most commonly written as two words: 'cuckoo clock'. Hyphenated 'cuckoo-clock' is an older or less common variant but is still acceptable.
: Yes, many models have a small lever or switch to silence the bird's call, often for nighttime, while the clock's timekeeping continues.
: A wall or shelf clock, often made of wood and decoratively carved, in which a small, mechanical bird emerges through a small door on the hour and makes a sound imitating the call of the cuckoo bird.
: Cuckoo clock is usually neutral; slightly informal and descriptive. in register.
: Cuckoo clock: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkʊk.uː ˌklɒk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkʊk.u ˌklɑːk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“regular as a cuckoo clock”
“like a cuckoo clock (predictable, repetitive)”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine the sound 'cuck-oo, cuck-oo' coming from a CLOCK. The word 'cuckoo' is inside the word for the object.

Conceptual Metaphor

PREDICTABILITY / REGULARITY IS THE CHIME OF A CUCKOO CLOCK (e.g., 'He arrives every day at five, regular as a cuckoo clock').

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

On the hour, the little wooden bird emerges from its door in the to announce the time.

Multiple Choice

Which region is most famously associated with the traditional manufacture of cuckoo clocks?