Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

bonkers

/ˈbɑŋkɚz/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.10 in modern English

Syllables: bonkers
IPA: /ˈbɑŋkɚz/

13

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

British usage; Informal

noun

plural of bonker

Example Sentences

"[A]nd we should remind ourselves that it is absolutely bonkers that we elect judges at all; that system is used almost nowhere else on earth[.]"
""They are turning people off travelling. And the removal of catering on such a long-distance route is just bonkers.""
"Notable examples include The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953), […], and The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery, a slightly bonkers 1965 comedy using the Longmoor Military Railway and obviously sped-up footage."

Etymology

Unknown. Perhaps from bonk (a blow or punch on the head, compare whacky); perhaps related to earlier bonce.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈbɑŋkɚz/
British English: /ˈbɒŋkəz/

Usage

British usage
Informal

Inflected Forms

more bonkers (comparative) most bonkers (superlative)

Derived Forms

bonkersdom bonkersness

Phrases

go bonkers

Synonyms

balmy barmy bats batty buggy cracked crackers daft dotty fruity haywire kooky

Rhymes With

yonkers conquers wankers

Questions

How do you pronounce bonkers?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈbɑŋkɚz/.
What does bonkers mean?: Mad; crazy.
Where does bonkers come from?: Unknown. Perhaps from bonk (a blow or punch on the head, compare whacky); perhaps related to earlier bonce.

How to pronounce bonkers

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