clang
/ˈkleɪ̯ŋ/noun, verb, interjection
clang is spelled C-L-A-N-G: 5 letters and one syllable. It appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 45,363rd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, clang means “A loud, ringing sound, like that made by free-hanging metal objects striking each other; usually, one considered more jarring than melodious” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of clang is clangs.
How many letters and syllables are in clang?
| Letters | 5: C-L-A-N-G |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 1 |
| In writing | about once in every 2 million words; the 45,363rd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is clang?
Clang appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 45,363rd most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce clang?
- /ˈklæŋ/
- [ˈkʰlæŋ]
- US /ˈkleɪ̯ŋ/
Clang has one syllable.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-clang.wav, LL-Q1860_(eng)-Wodencafe-clang.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with clang?
The 12 most written words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as clang from its last stressed vowel (/eɪŋ/):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of clang
- clangs plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- clanging participle, present
- clanged participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does clang mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A loud, ringing sound, like that made by free-hanging metal objects striking each other; usually, one considered more jarring than melodious.
- 2
Quality of tone.
- 3
The cry of some birds, including the crane and the goose.
- 4
A word or phrase linked only by sound and not by meaning, characteristic of some mental disorders.
- 5
Alternative form of klang.
verb
- 1
To strike (objects) together so as to produce a clang.
- 2
To give out a clang; to resound.
- 3
To utter a word or phrase linked only by sound and not by meaning, characteristic of some mental disorders.
interjection
- 1
Imitative of a loud metallic ringing sound.
- 2
Said after someone has name-dropped (mentioned a famous person with whom they are acquainted).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Clang in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense cry of crane, goose, etc:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | glapissement, criaillement, sifflement |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does clang come from?
1570, of imitative origin. Compare also Saterland Frisian Kloang, West Frisian klank, Dutch klank, German Klang (from German klingen), Danish and Swedish klang, Latin clangere (“to resound”) (which probably influenced it).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).