Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

spanking

/ˈspeɪ̯ŋkɪŋ/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.28 in modern English

Syllables: span-king
IPA: /ˈspeɪ̯ŋkɪŋ/

15

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

present participle of spank

adj

Fast and energetic.

adj

Brisk and fresh.

adv

An intensifier.

Colloquial

verb

present participle of spank

noun

A form of physical punishment in which a beating is applied to the buttocks.

Uncountable

noun

An incident of such punishment, or such physical act in a non-punitive context, such as a birthday spanking.

Countable

Example Sentences

"a spanking pace"
"'I'd like nothing better this minute,' said Mr Browne stoutly, 'than a rattling fine walk in the country or a fast drive with a good spanking goer between the shafts.'"
"On both the Gothland and the Öland Railway, a spanking railcar provides an alternative to riding in the wayward, steam-driven mixed train, but the latter is the proper conveyance for a real railway lover, even over the flat, limestone plains which form much of the Baltic island scenery."
"a spanking breeze"
"brand spanking new"
"a spanking good time"

Etymology

Etymology tree English spank Proto-Indo-European *-onts Proto-Germanic *-ndz Proto-West Germanic *-andī Old English -ende Middle English -ynge English -ing English spanking From spank (“to move energetically”) + -ing.

Word Breakdown

Prefix: -ing
Suffix: spank

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈspeɪ̯ŋkɪŋ/

Usage

Inflected Forms

spankings (plural)

Derived Forms

spankingly antispanking

Phrases

spanking new

Synonyms

striking alert brisk lively merry rattling snappy zippy

Rhymes With

banking ranking thanking flanking cranking tanking nanking yanking planking blanking franking clanking

Questions

How do you pronounce spanking?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈspeɪ̯ŋkɪŋ/.
What does spanking mean?: present participle of spank
Where does spanking come from?: Etymology tree English spank Proto-Indo-European *-onts Proto-Germanic *-ndz Proto-West Germanic *-andī Old English -ende Middle English -ynge English -ing English spanking From spank (“to move energetically”) + -ing.

How to pronounce spanking

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