clic-clac

\klik.klak\

/\klik.klak\/ onomatopoeia

The verdict

“clic-clac” is uncommon French (outside the top frequency list), classed as an onomatopoeia. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency French
9
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - Exprime un bruit sec en deux temps, comme celui d’un fusil que l’on arme ou d’une serrure que l’on actionne.

Corpus desk

Index FR-clic-clac · clic-clac · French

clic-clac · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-LONG 9 letters
  • VOW-2 2 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "C" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for clic-clac
PropertyValue
Headwordclic-clac
LanguageFrench
Part of speechOnomatopoeia
IPA\klik.klak\
Letters9
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Longue queue: rang de « clic-clac » en français

clic-clacn'entre pas dans le top 100.000 du français: zone de termes techniques, archaïques ou rares.

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

Rare enough to double-check

clic-clac is uncommon French outside the top frequency list, classed as anonomatopoeia, transcribed \klik.klak\. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. Gloss: "Exprime un bruit sec en deux temps, comme celui d’un fusil que l’on arme ou d’une serrure que l’on actionne.".

clic-clac has no tracked misspelling variants, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable French rules. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

No documented word history exists for this headword, so its spelling pattern is best understood through pronunciation rather than a traceable origin. The correct French form is clic-clac, spelled C-L-I-C---C-L-A-C.

Definition

  1. 1
    Exprime un bruit sec en deux temps, comme celui d’un fusil que l’on arme ou d’une serrure que l’on actionne.

Recorded use

Wiktionary example

These source excerpts show how clic-clac appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Clic-clac, ouverture du poudrier, miroir portatif à l’appui, clic-clac, le tube coulisse et s’ouvre, révélant un bâton de rouge carmin, luisant et pointu, avec quoi elle entame la peinture de ses lèvres.

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 "clic-clac"?
"clic-clac" is spelled C-L-I-C---C-L-A-C. The IPA pronunciation is \klik.klak\.
What does "clic-clac" mean?
As an onomatopoeia, "clic-clac" means: Exprime un bruit sec en deux temps, comme celui d’un fusil que l’on arme ou d’une serrure que l’on actionne.
How do you pronounce "clic-clac"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "clic-clac" is \klik.klak\. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "clic-clac" come from?
"clic-clac" is a French word. PlainSpell's reference spans five languages -- English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German -- with definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data for each.
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.

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list