Knall
/knal/masculine
The English phrase 'bang' is translated into German as Knall.
Knall is a noun used to describe a sudden percussive noise.
Meaning: a sudden percussive noise (noun)
Which one should you use?
While Knall is the noun for a sudden percussive noise, the verb knallen means to make a loud noise or to slam something.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Knall is a masculine noun that takes the indefinite article ein in the nominative case. The singular genitive form is Knalls. The standard plural form is Knälle.
How do you pronounce it?
/knal/
Did you know?
- The word can be used in the term Knallpurpur, a specific, startlingly bright shade of reddish-purple, referring to the 'bang' of a striking color.
- The term Knall appears in the common German idiom einen Knall haben, which literally means 'to have a bang' but actually means to be crazy or eccentric.
- In German, the related verb knallen can also be used as slang to describe the act of drinking something quickly or 'slamming' a drink.
Examples in context
- Mit einem lauten Knall schlug er die Tür zu.He slammed the door shut with a loud bang.This sentence is useful for describing a door being slammed with a loud Knall.Tatoeba #4552873 by al_ex_an_der, translation #8873626 by sundown
- Der Knall, mit dem das kaputt ging, ließ uns zusammenzucken.The bang it made when it broke down made us jump.This sentence shows how a Knall can cause a physical reaction like jumping.Tatoeba #8964692 by manese, translation #8973564 by sundown
- Dann hört man plötzlich einen lauten Knall, wie bei einem Revolverabschuss.Then you suddenly heard a loud bang, like a revolver being fired.This sentence compares a sudden Knall to the sound of a revolver being fired.Tatoeba #4184511 by Esperantostern, translation #4185147 by User66640
- Während des Feuerwerks gab es einen lauten Knall.During the fireworks, there was a loud bang.
- Der Zusammenstoß erzeugte ein lautes Krachen.The collision produced a loud bang.
- Als ich den Luftballon zerstochen habe, machte es laut peng.When I popped the balloon, it made a loud bang.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Sarah are startled by a noise in the kitchen.
- LukasHast du diesen Knall gehört?Did you hear that bang?
- SarahJa, es kam aus der Küche.Yes, it came from the kitchen.
- LukasIch glaube, ein Topf ist heruntergefallen.I think a pot fell down.
- SarahDas erklärt den lauten Knall.That explains the loud bang.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bang” translations and entries Knall, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
