cluck
3 synonyms for cluck, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The short, clicking sound a hen makes.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
The short, clicking sound a hen makes.
“The chicken gave a soft cluck as she settled onto her eggs.”
How to use cluck
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
cluck like a hen
cluck one's tongue
Etymology
From Old English cloccian, an imitative word that mimics the sound itself — the same pattern shows up in German glucken and Dutch klokken.
Full origin of cluck →Frequently asked questions
What does “cluck” mean?
The word “cluck” means the short, clicking sound a hen makes. In plain terms, the clicking sound hens make, or a similar tongue-click people use to show disapproval.
How do you pronounce “cluck”?
“Cluck” is pronounced kluhk (/klʌk/ in IPA).
How do you use “cluck” in a sentence?
Here is “cluck” used in a sentence: “The chicken gave a soft cluck as she settled onto her eggs.”
What part of speech is “cluck”?
Depending on how it is used, “cluck” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “cluck” come from?
The word “cluck” comes from Old English. From Old English cloccian, an imitative word that mimics the sound itself — the same pattern shows up in German glucken and Dutch klokken.
How many meanings does “cluck” have?
“Cluck” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the short, clicking sound a hen makes.
