Meaning & use
tsk
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Meanings
interjectioninformal
A clicking sound made with the tongue to show mild disapproval, annoyance, or pity.
Grammar: Often written doubled: 'tsk, tsk' or 'tsk-tsk'.
Patterns
- tsk, tsk
- tsk tsk
Tsk, tsk, you should have known better.
She shook her head and went 'tsk' when she saw the mess.
“Tsk, tsk,” he said, looking at the broken vase.
verbintransitiveinformal
To make a clicking sound with the tongue to show disapproval or annoyance.
Grammar: Usually used in the phrase 'tsk at someone' or 'tsk-tsk'.
Patterns
- tsk at someone
- tsk-tsk
The teacher tsked at the noisy class.
He tsked and walked away.
She tsked-tsked when she heard the gossip.
Word forms
| third person singular | tsks |
|---|---|
| past tense | tsked |
| past participle | tsked |
| -ing form | tsking |
Common combinations
- tsk, tsk
- Tsk, tsk, that's not very polite.
- tsk at someone
- She tsked at him for being late.
- shake your head and tsk
- He shook his head and tsked in disappointment.
Synonyms and how they differ
- tut
- Very similar clicking sound; 'tut' is more common in British English, while 'tsk' is used in both but especially American English.
Practice
What does 'tsk' usually express?
Choose one answer.
'Tsk' is a clicking sound that shows mild disapproval, annoyance, or pity. It does not mean happiness, confusion, or a request.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “tsk”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.