ding dong

/dɪŋ(ɡ)ˈdɒŋ(ɡ)/

//dɪŋ(ɡ)ˈdɒŋ(ɡ)// intj

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

"ding-dong" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“ding dong” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as an interjection - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
9
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The sound made by a bell; especially, that made by a doorbell.

Key facts for ding dong
PropertyValue
Headwordding dong
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechInterjection
IPA/dɪŋ(ɡ)ˈdɒŋ(ɡ)/
Letters9
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “ding dong” sits in English frequency

ding dong falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for ding dong is 9 letters long, classified as an interjection, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /dɪŋ(ɡ)ˈdɒŋ(ɡ)/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

No generated misspelling entries exist for ding dong in our index, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: See ding-dong The correct English form is ding dong, spelled D-I-N-G- -D-O-N-G.

Definition

  1. 1
    The sound made by a bell; especially, that made by a doorbell.
  2. 2
    A general exclamation of surprise or approval.

Etymology

See ding-dong

This word in other languages

drelin-drelin(Français)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "ding dong"?
"ding dong" is spelled D-I-N-G- -D-O-N-G. The IPA pronunciation is /dɪŋ(ɡ)ˈdɒŋ(ɡ)/.
What does "ding dong" mean?
As an interjection, "ding dong" means: The sound made by a bell; especially, that made by a doorbell.
How do you pronounce "ding dong"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "ding dong" is /dɪŋ(ɡ)ˈdɒŋ(ɡ)/. 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 "ding dong"?
See ding-dong 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 “ding dong”

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

  • The one correct English spelling is D-I-N-G- -D-O-N-G - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /dɪŋ(ɡ)ˈdɒŋ(ɡ)/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • 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