clang

/ˈklæ̞ŋ/

//ˈklæ̞ŋ// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"clang" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“clang” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #45,277 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#45,277
frequency rank, English
5
letters
8
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A loud, ringing sound, like that made by free-hanging metal objects striking each other.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

clang vs clay
60% similar
clang vs claw
60% similar
clang vs clap
60% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for clang
PropertyValue
Headwordclang
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈklæ̞ŋ/
Letters5
Frequency rank#45,277
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “clang” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). clang lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for clang is 5 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈklæ̞ŋ/. Corpus data places it at rank #45,277 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for clang, with forms such as "calng", "cclang", and "clagn". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "clay", "claw", "clap", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: 1570, of imitative origin. Compare also Saterland Frisian Kloang, West Frisian klank, Dutch klank, German Klang (from klingen), Danish and Swedish klang, Latin clangere (“to resound”) (which probably influenced it). The correct English form is clang, spelled C-L-A-N-G.

Definition

  1. 1
    A loud, ringing sound, like that made by free-hanging metal objects striking each other.
  2. 2
    Quality of tone.
  3. 3
    The cry of some birds, including the crane and the goose.
  4. 4
    A word or phrase linked only by sound and not by meaning, characteristic of some mental disorders.
  5. 5
    Alternative form of klang.

Etymology

1570, of imitative origin. Compare also Saterland Frisian Kloang, West Frisian klank, Dutch klank, German Klang (from klingen), Danish and Swedish klang, Latin clangere (“to resound”) (which probably influenced it).

This word in other languages

glapissement(Français)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: calng,cclang,clagn,clangg,clanng,cllang,clnag,lcang

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of clang - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

calng2cclang1clagn2clangg1clanng1cllang1clnag2lcang2
Edit distance from "clang"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "clang"?
"clang" is spelled C-L-A-N-G. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈklæ̞ŋ/.
What does "clang" mean?
As a noun, "clang" means: A loud, ringing sound, like that made by free-hanging metal objects striking each other.
What words are commonly confused with "clang"?
"clang" is commonly confused with "clay", "claw", "clap". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "clang"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "clang" is /ˈklæ̞ŋ/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "clang"?
1570, of imitative origin. Compare also Saterland Frisian Kloang, West Frisian klank, Dutch klank, German Klang (from klingen), Danish and Swedish klang, Latin clangere (“to resound”) (which probably influenced it). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “clang”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is C-L-A-N-G - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈklæ̞ŋ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “clay” - see the side-by-side comparison. clang vs clay
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list