Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

ding-dong

/ˈdɪŋˌdɔŋ/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.40 in modern English

Syllables: ding--dong
IPA: /ˈdɪŋˌdɔŋ/

12

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Closely fought.

Informal

noun

One of several sounds that might be made by a bell.

noun

A woman's breast.

Slang

noun

Slang

noun

A fight, an argument; a set-to.

Slang

noun

Slang

noun

An attachment to a clock by which the quarter hours are struck upon bells of different tones.

verb

To ring with two tones, like a bell swinging back and forth.

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

"It was first blood to the Black Cats in the ding-dong clash when Bardsley, a right-footer playing on the left, collected the ball from just inside his own half and sped up to the edge of the area before launching an effort which appeared to confuse Petr Cech in goal."
"Near-synonyms: ding-a-ling, ring-a-ding, ringaling, tingaling"
"Oh, no, man, I haven't got the time time / Too busy sucking on a ding-dong / She's busy sucking on my ding-dong"

Etymology

Mid 16th century, imitative of the alternate chimes of a bell. For sense of penis, compare Saterland Frisian Ding (“penis”), German Low German Dings (“penis”), English thing.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈdɪŋˌdɔŋ/
British English: /ˈdɪŋˌdɒŋ/

Usage

Inflected Forms

ding dong (alternative) dingdong (alternative) ding-dongs (plural) ding-dongs (present, singular) ding-donging (participle, present) ding-donged (participle, past) ding-donged (past)

Phrases

ding dong cart ding-dong ditch ding-dong theory

Frequently Paired Words

jingle tinkle bong dong gong bring brring brrring

Synonyms

ding-a-ling ring-a-ding ringaling tingaling assets babylons balloons baps badonkers bangers bazongas bazookas

Rhymes With

long wrong along song strong hong kong belong hong-kong dong lifelong jong

Questions

How do you pronounce ding-dong?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈdɪŋˌdɔŋ/.
What does ding-dong mean?: Closely fought.
Where does ding-dong come from?: Mid 16th century, imitative of the alternate chimes of a bell. For sense of penis, compare Saterland Frisian Ding (“penis”), German Low German Dings (“penis”), English thing.

How to pronounce ding-dong

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “ding-dong”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈdɪŋˌdɔŋ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “ding-dong”.
Repeat and practice — Say “ding-dong” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.