Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

doohickey

/ˈduhɪki/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.72 in modern English

Syllables: doohick-ey
IPA: /ˈduhɪki/

22

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

2

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A thing (used in a vague way to refer to something whose name one does not know or cannot recall)

Slang

Example Sentences

"What does this doohickey do?"
"Customers will ask for "gizmos" and "what-cha-ma-call-its" and "doohickeys," and make crude drawings on paper bags of what it is they think they need."
"Besides, the show has invented a doohickey that makes it possible for Dr. Manhattan to exist as Calvin, a stable and supportive husband and father with no memory of his life as Jon Osterman, who can live out those 10 years as something close to a human being."

Etymology

First attested 1914, of uncertain origin, probably from doodad + hickey.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈduhɪki/

Usage

Slang

Inflected Forms

doohickeys (plural) dohickey (alternative) do-hickey (alternative) doo-hickey (alternative) do-hinky (alternative) doohinky (alternative)

Synonyms

Sorted by number of Google hits widget hickey gizmo thingy gimmick thingie jigger gismo gubbins whatsit thingamajig

Questions

How do you pronounce doohickey?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈduhɪki/.
What does doohickey mean?: A thing (used in a vague way to refer to something whose name one does not know or cannot recall)
Where does doohickey come from?: First attested 1914, of uncertain origin, probably from doodad + hickey.

How to pronounce doohickey

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