World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesClickety-clack
/ˈklɪk.ɪ.ti.klæk/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
A sharp, repetitive ticking or rattling sound, typically made by a train on rails or similar moving machinery.
"We fell asleep to the soothing clickety-clack of the night train heading north."
- 1
Characterized by or making a rhythmic clicking and clacking noise.
"The old typewriter produced a familiar clickety-clack rhythm throughout the office."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Originating as an imitative echoic (onomatopoeic) formation in the 19th century, 'clickety-clack' reduplicates the root words 'click' and 'clack' with the suffix '-y' to mimic the rapid, repetitive mechanical sounds of wheels on tracks or heels on hard surfaces. It reflects a long-standing Germanic and English tradition of using expressive reduplication to capture rhythmic auditory phenomena.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Clickety-clack"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Clickety-clack" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
cratacra
Transliteration: kra-ta-kra
"Le train avance avec un bruit de cratacra sur les rails."
Klapperklack
Transliteration: klap-er-klak
"Man hörte das Klapperklack der Schienen im Dunkeln."
clic-clac
Transliteration: klik-klak
"Il treno proseguiva con il suo ritmico clic-clac."
cliqueteo
Transliteration: kli-ke-te-o
"El cliqueteo de las vías del tren acompañaba el viaje."
trac-trac
Transliteration: trak-trak
"O trac-trac do trem ecoava pela madrugada."
खटखट
Transliteration: khat-khat
Script: खटखट आवाज़
"रेल की पटरियों पर खटखट की आवाज़ सुनाई दे रही थी।"
咔哒咔哒
Transliteration: kā dā kā dā
"火车在铁轨上发出咔哒咔哒的声音。"
달그락달그락
Transliteration: dal-geu-rak-dal-geu-rak
"기차가 선로 위를 달그락달그락 달리다."
ガタンゴトン
Transliteration: gatan goton
"列車がガタンゴトンと音を立てて走る。"
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