gawk in English
- gawk⇄gawk, verb, noun.
- gawk⇄noun an awkward person; clumsy fool.
- gawk⇄noun gawker.
- gawk⇄v.i. to stare idly, rudely, or stupidly.
Ex. Foreign tourists ... normally spend freely while gawking at the pyramids (Wall Street Journal).
gawk in Gujarati ગુજરાતી
gawk Deals on Amazon
Gawk
Part of Speech
Verb
Pronunciation
/ɡɔːk/
Definitions
- Verb: To look at something or someone in a stupid or rude way, often with an open mouth.
- Verb: To stare or gaze openly and without shame, especially in a foolish or inappropriate manner.
Usage Examples
- "She couldn’t help but gawk at the impressive architecture of the building."
- "The tourists gawked at the exotic animals in the zoo."
Etymology
The word "gawk" comes from Middle English "gak," meaning a simpleton or fool, which was derived from Old Norse "gakkr," meaning a clumsy or silly person. It has evolved in the modern era to refer to someone who stares vacantly or foolishly at something.
Synonyms
- Stare
- Gaze
- Glare
- Gawk at
- Ogle
Antonyms
- Avoid
- Ignore
- Disregard
- Glance
Translations
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| French | Regarder bêtement | /ʁəɡaʁde bɛtəmɑ̃/ |
| Spanish | Mirar fijamente | /miˈɾaɾ fiˈxamente/ |
| German | Gaffen | /ˈɡafn̩/ |
| Italian | Fissare | /fiˈsːare/ |
| Portuguese | Olhar fixamente | /oˈʎaʁ fiksɐˈmẽtʃi/ |
| Russian | Пялиться | /pʲælʲɪt͡sə/ |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 盯着看 | /dīng zhe kàn/ |
| Japanese | じろじろ見る | /jirojiro miru/ |
| Arabic | يتحدّق | /yataḥaddaḳ/ |
| Hindi | घूरना | /ɡʱuːrnaː/ |
| Bengali | নির্বিকারভাবে তাকানো | /niɾbikaːrbhabe takaːno/ |
| Gujarati | ઘૂરણું | /ɡʱuːɾnuː/ |
| Punjabi | ਘੁੱਕਣਾ | /ɡʱukkɳa/ |
| Marathi | पाहत राहणे | /pāhat rāhṇe/ |
| Telugu | ఆరొపు చూసి | /ārōpu cūsi/ |
| Tamil | பார்த்துவிடு | /pārttuviṭu/ |
| Malayalam | നോട്ടം വെയ്ക്കുക | /nōṭṭam veikkuka/ |
| Kannada | ಕನಸು ನೋಡುವುದು | /kanasu nōḍuvudu/ |
| Odia | ପାହାଣି କରିବା | /pāhāṇi karibā/ |
| Assamese | পাচলিত চোৱা | /pācālita cōwā/ |
Regional Pronunciation Variations
The pronunciation of "gawk" can vary slightly depending on regional accents. In certain dialects, it may be pronounced with a more drawn-out "aw" sound or as a sharp "gawk" with a quick "a" sound, often influenced by the local speech patterns.
Historical Usage
The term "gawk" has been in use since the 16th century and was initially used to describe people who were foolish or simple-minded. Over time, it evolved to refer to the action of staring in a rude or absent-minded way. The word is still widely used today in English-speaking cultures with this negative connotation.
Cultural Nuances
In modern English, the term "gawk" often carries a sense of awkwardness and social inappropriateness, as in the act of staring without regard to social norms. It is associated with behaviors such as gawking at accidents, celebrities, or anything out of the ordinary, often in a manner perceived as rude or overly inquisitive.
More Information
Gawking is typically viewed as socially awkward and can be seen as impolite, especially in situations where individuals are in the presence of others. The word "gawk" remains widely used in both formal and informal contexts, often as a term to describe someone who is acting in a manner that draws attention through staring or a lack of discretion. Its usage can also be found in literature and popular media as a descriptor for a person who is either uninformed or naïve.