ting: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, Onomatopoeic, Slang (for 'thing')
Quick answer
What does “ting” mean?
A high, clear, sharp, ringing sound, like that made by a small bell or a piece of metal being struck lightly.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A high, clear, sharp, ringing sound, like that made by a small bell or a piece of metal being struck lightly.
Can refer to the act of making such a sound, or be used as a verb meaning 'to make that sound'. In slang, particularly in Caribbean and UK contexts, 'ting' can be a phonetic spelling for 'thing'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word itself as an onomatopoeia is neutral. However, the slang usage as a substitute for 'thing' ('a nice ting') is far more common and established in British English (influenced by Caribbean and Multicultural London English) than in American English.
Connotations
As a sound: neutral. As slang for 'thing': can carry connotations of informality, youth culture, or specific regional/dialectal identity.
Frequency
Rare in formal contexts as a noun or verb for the sound. Frequency of the slang variant is high in specific UK demographic and cultural contexts, low elsewhere.
Grammar
How to Use “ting” in a Sentence
The [small bell] tinged.He heard a [faint] ting.It made a ting.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ting” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The small brass bell tinged softly as the door opened.
- He tinged the edge of his wine glass with a knife to get everyone's attention.
American English
- The triangle tinged at the end of the song.
- A piece of shrapnel tinged off the metal hull.
adverb
British English
- The bell went ting. (descriptive adverb/complement)
- It hit the metal ting. (rare)
American English
- The crystal sang ting. (complement)
- It rang out ting. (complement)
adjective
British English
- It had a distinctive ting sound. (functionally a noun adjunct)
- The ting sensation in his ears was brief.
American English
- She described the noise as more of a ting tone. (noun adjunct)
- A ting quality to the recording.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Virtually never used, except perhaps in descriptive phonetics or literature analyzing sound.
Everyday
Used informally to describe a light, metallic sound. 'Thing' slang is context-specific.
Technical
May appear in audio engineering or sound design to describe a specific frequency characteristic.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ting”
- Overusing it in formal writing.
- Spelling it as 'thing' when the onomatopoeic effect is intended, and vice-versa.
- Pronouncing the 'g' too hard; it's a velar nasal /ŋ/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a standard onomatopoeic word in the dictionary for a light, ringing sound. Its slang use for 'thing' is also widely recognised in certain dialects.
Yes, 'to ting' means to make a short, high, ringing sound.
Yes. 'Ting' is very short and sharp. 'Ping' often implies a more metallic, resonant, sometimes electronic sound. 'Tinkle' suggests a lighter, more rapid, or series of gentle, high sounds (like a small bell).
This is a phonetic representation found in Caribbean English and influenced varieties like Multicultural London English (MLE), where the 'th' sound is often pronounced as 't'. It's a feature of accent and dialect, not a standard spelling.
A high, clear, sharp, ringing sound, like that made by a small bell or a piece of metal being struck lightly.
Ting is usually informal, onomatopoeic, slang (for 'thing') in register.
Ting: in British English it is pronounced /tɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /tɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The final ting (the concluding, often insignificant event/sound).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the sound a tiny bell makes: 'TING!' It's short, high, and sharp.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOUND IS A PHYSICAL OBJECT (e.g., 'A ting of the bell reached his ears').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'ting' most likely to be a non-standard spelling for 'thing'?