twang

Meaning

Noun

1. The sharp, quick sound of a vibrating tight string, for example, of a bow or a musical instrument.
2. A particular sharp vibrating sound characteristic of electric guitars.
3. A trace of a regional or foreign accent in someone's voice.
4. The sound quality that appears in the human voice when the epilaryngeal tube is narrowed.
5. A sharp, pungent taste or flavor; sometimes, a disagreeable one specifically.
6. (slang, vulgar) An annoying or stupid person; especially, a recalcitrant.

Verb

1. (ambitransitive) To produce or cause to produce a sharp vibrating sound, like a tense string pulled and suddenly let go.
2. (intransitive) To have a nasal sound.
3. (intransitive) To have a trace of a regional or foreign accent.
4. To play a stringed musical instrument by plucking and snapping.

Synonyms

sound

🔉

nasal twang

plunk

clang

ting

tang

speak through one’s nose

nose

👃

pick

⛏️

ring

💍

roar

shake

🫨

shiver

smack

snuffle

thrum

tremolo

zing

nasal tone

speak through the nose

tone of voice

tap out

nasal pronunciation

bellow

nasale

chord

clink

intonation

nasality

nasalize

noise

peal

Translations

näseln

sonido vibrante

parler du nez

tıngırdamak

schwirren

klingen

💍

tıngırtı

nasiller

ganguear

τρομώδης ήχος

ομιλώ ερρινώς

γρατζουνίζω

خنخ

ένρινος ήχος

έρρινος τόνος

Pronounced as (IPA)

/twæŋ/

Etymology

Cognate with Middle English: twengen

Cognate with Old English: twenġen

Cognate with Middle English: twingen

Cognate with Old Norse: þvinga

Cognate with Old English: twingan

In summary

Onomatopoeic. Compare Middle English twengen (“to pinch, tweak”) (whence modern English twinge), from Old English twenġan (“to pinch, twinge”); Middle English twingen (“to afflict, torment, oppress”), from Old Norse þvinga (“to weigh down, oppress”); Old English twingan (“to force, press”).