cling
/ˈklɪŋ/noun, verb, interjection
cling is spelled C-L-I-N-G: 5 letters and one syllable. It appears 3.1 times per million words in written English, the 15,146th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, cling means “Fruit (especially peach) whose flesh adheres strongly to the pit” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of cling is clings.
How many letters and syllables are in cling?
| Letters | 5: C-L-I-N-G |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 1 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 3.1 times per million words; the 15,146th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is cling?
Cling appears 3.1 times per million words in written English, the 15,146th 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 cling?
- /ˈklɪŋ/
Cling has one syllable (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-cling.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of cling
- clings plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- clinging participle, present
- clung participle, past
- clinged participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does cling mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
Fruit (especially peach) whose flesh adheres strongly to the pit.
- 2
Adherence; attachment; devotion.
- 3
An ornament that clings to a window so as to be seen from outside.
verb
- 1
To hold very tightly, as to not fall off.
Seaweed clung to the anchor.
- 2
To adhere to an object, without being affixed, in such a way as to follow its contours. Used especially of fabrics and films.
- 3
To cause to adhere to, especially by twining round or embracing.
- 4
To cause to dry up or wither.
- 5
To dry up or wither.
Wood clings.
- 6
To be fond of, to feel strongly about and dependent on.
- 7
To produce a high-pitched ringing sound, like a small bell.
interjection
- 1
Imitative of a high-pitched ringing sound.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Cling in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | accrocher, s'accrocher, coller, se coller |
| German | haften, sich klammern , hängen an |
| Portuguese | agarrar (-se) |
| Spanish | sostener, aferrarse, sujetar, agarrarse, ceñir, agarrar |
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 cling come from?
From Middle English clingen, from Old English clingan (“to adhere”), from Proto-West Germanic *klingan, from Proto-Germanic *klinganą. Cognate with Danish klynge (“to cluster, to crowd”). Compare clump.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).