Meaning & use
a bangle
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Meanings
nouncountable
A stiff ring worn around the wrist or arm as decoration, usually without a clasp.
Grammar: Countable: one bangle, two bangles. Use "a" for a single one and "the" for a known one.
Patterns
- wear a bangle
- a bangle on your wrist
- a set of bangles
She slid a thin silver bangle over her hand and checked how it looked.
He bought a bangle for his sister's birthday at the market.
A bangle caught on her sleeve as she reached for the door.
nouncountable
One of a set of matching rings worn together on the arm, especially in South Asian jewelry.
Grammar: Often used in the plural in this sense: "she wore bangles" means a whole set.
Patterns
- a set of bangles
- wear bangles
- glass bangles
For the wedding she wore a bangle on each arm, all in the same red glass.
The shop sells a bangle in every color, so you can build a matching set.
Her grandmother gave her a bangle from a set she had worn as a girl.
Word forms
| plural | bangles |
|---|
Common combinations
- wear a bangle
- She likes to wear a bangle on each wrist.
- a gold bangle
- He gave her a gold bangle for their anniversary.
- slip a bangle on
- She slipped a bangle on before leaving the house.
- a bangle on your wrist
- There was a small bangle on your wrist in the photo.
- a matching bangle
- The necklace came with a matching bangle.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bracelet
- A bracelet is the general word for any wrist ornament, including chains and bands with clasps; a bangle is specifically a stiff ring that slips over the hand.
- armlet
- An armlet is worn higher up the arm, while a bangle normally sits at the wrist.
- cuff
- A cuff is a wide, open band that does not go all the way around, unlike a closed ring like a bangle.
Word family
- bangles noun
- The plural form, often meaning a set worn together.
- bangled adjective
- Wearing or decorated with bangles, as in "her bangled arms."
Commonly confused: a bangle or bangle? a bangle or bangle (vs. bungle)?
a bangle vs bangle
Remember that the phrase "a bangle" already contains the article, so do not say "an a bangle." The plain noun is "bangle."
a bangle vs bangle (vs. bungle)
"Bangle" rhymes with "angle" and means jewelry; "bungle" means to do something badly, as in "he bungled the job."
Practice
Which sentence uses "a bangle" correctly?
Choose one answer.
A bangle is a stiff ring for the wrist or arm, so "on her wrist" fits. Ankles and feet are for anklets, and the head is for headbands or tiaras, not bangles.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a bangle”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.