Twang
/twæŋ/noun
A sharp, resonant sound or a distinctive nasal quality in someone’s voice.
Did you know?Twang is probably an echoic, sound-symbolic word—its pronunciation imitates the vibrating snap it describes, rather than descending from a clearly identifiable classical root.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
Proto-Germanic
*twangjaną
“Reconstructed sound- or pressure-related verb associated with a sharp vibration or constriction”
Old English
Old English
twang
“A twanging sound, especially from a string or similar vibrating object”
Middle English
Middle English
twangen
“To make a sharp vibrating sound; likely influenced by sound imitation”
16th Century
English
twang
“A sharp, resonant sound, particularly the sound of a plucked string”
17th Century
English
twang
“A distinctive nasal or regional quality of speech”
Modern English
English
twang
“A sharp vibrating sound or characteristic accent and vocal quality”