bang
/bɑ̃ɡ/
The French word bang is used to translate the English phrase 'bang', referring to a sudden percussive noise.
Meaning: a sudden percussive noise (noun)
Which one should you use?
While bang is used for the cosmological term, the onomatopoeia for a sudden percussive noise, such as a gunshot or a pop, is pan.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/bɑ̃ɡ/
Did you know?
- If you are reading a French comic book, a loud bang or crash is often written as BOUM rather than BANG. This reflects a different phonetic approach to imitating sudden sounds.
- When describing a 'bang' in the sense of a sudden loud noise, French speakers may use the verb claquer, which specifically mimics the sound of a door slamming.
- The French onomatopoeia pan can also be used to describe the sound of a sudden light slap or a sharp hit. This expands the sensory use of the word beyond just explosive or firearm-related sounds.
Examples in context
- La théorie du Big Bang fut proposée en 1927 et étendue en 1929.The theory of the Big Bang was proposed in 1927 and expanded in 1929.This sentence shows the historical context of the Big Bang theory using bang.Tatoeba #901809 by Scott, translation #897399 by CM
- Quiconque croit que l'intelligence consciente provient du Big Bang est capable de croire n'importe quoi.Anyone who believes that conscious intelligence comes from the Big Bang is capable of believing anything.This sentence discusses the origin of conscious intelligence in relation to the Big Bang using bang.Tatoeba #10598933 by carlosalberto, translation #10598926 by carlosalberto
- La lumière générée lors du Big Bang voyage encore aujourd'hui dans l'espace à une vitesse de 300 000 km/s.The light generated in the Big Bang still travels through space at a speed of 300,000 km/s.This sentence describes the light traveling from the Big Bang using bang.Tatoeba #11535282 by carlosalberto, translation #11535276 by carlosalberto
- La détonation retentit à travers la vallée.The bang echoed through the valley.
- Le claquement de la porte nous a tous fait sursauter.The bang of the door made us all jump.
- J'ai entendu un boum énorme, comme si une bombe avait explosé.I heard a huge bang, as if a bomb had exploded.
- Il a marché sur son jouet et 'paf'… le bruit du plastique écrasé.He stepped on his toy and 'bang'… the sound of crushed plastic.
- Le coup était si fort que ça a réveillé tout le voisinage.The bang was so loud that it woke up the whole neighborhood.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Manon are startled by a noise in the kitchen.
- LucasTu as entendu ce bang ?Did you hear that bang?
- ManonOui, c'était très fort.Yes, it was very loud.
- LucasJe crois que c'est un pot qui est tombé.I think a pot fell.
- ManonOn va aller regarder, Lucas.Let's go look, Lucas.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bang, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
