tic tac
/tik tak/from spelling rules
The English phrase "tick tock" is translated into Spanish as tic tac.
tic tac is an onomatopoeia used to represent the sound a clock makes. When writing this sound, it is often written with a hyphen as tic-tac. Additionally, the phrase La plataforma TikTok is a formal way to refer to the TikTok social media platform.
Did you know?
- While tic tac represents a clock, Spanish speakers also use this phrase to describe the sound of high-heeled shoes walking on a hard floor.
- In Spanish, the sound of a clock is tic tac, but the sound of a heartbeat is described as tum tum.
- The word tic in Spanish can refer to a nervous habit or an involuntary muscle twitch, similar to the English 'tic'.
Examples in context
- Escucho el tic tac del reloj.I hear the tick tock of the clock.
- El tic tac me tiene nervioso.The tick tock makes me nervous.
- Ese tic tac es muy constante.That tick tock is very constant.
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are in a very quiet room.
- JavierHace mucho silencio aquí, ¿verdad?It is very quiet in here, right?
- SofíaSí, solo oigo el tic tac del reloj.Yes, I only hear the tick tock of the clock.
- JavierEse sonido me pone nervioso, Sofía.That sound makes me nervous, Sofía.
- SofíaYo creo que es relajante, Javier.I think it is relaxing, Javier.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
