How to pronounce zonk
Say it like ZAWNGK. Zonk is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce zonk. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ZAWNGK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Zonk pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ZAWNGKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of zonk
American and British speakers say zonk in essentially the same way: /zɔŋk/ in the US and /zɒŋk/ in the UK.
British respelling: ZONGK.
What does zonk mean?
- An unfavorable card or token, or undesirable or worthless item used as a prize in a contest or game show (such as Let's Make a Deal).
- The feeling of a drug taking hold.
- A cigarette hand-rolled from tobacco and cannabis.
- To hit hard.
- To make (someone) sleepy or delirious, to put into a stupor.
- To become exhausted, sleepy, or delirious.“After two hours of studying, I zonked out.”
Where does zonk come from?
First attested in c. 1950.
Questions about saying zonk
How do you pronounce zonk?
Say ZAWNGK. The American pronunciation is /zɔŋk/. In British English it is /zɒŋk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in zonk?
Zonk is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: ZAWNGK.
Do Americans and Brits say zonk the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /zɔŋk/ and the British form is /zɒŋk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.