noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˌɛlbəʊ ˈbʌmp/
General-American:/ˌɛlboʊ ˈbʌmp/
General-American:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ʌmp
1
noun
Meaning 1
A hit to the elbow; also, an injury to the elbow caused by such a hit.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A hit or jab made with the elbow.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
The touching of elbows between two people, sometimes as an alternative to a handshake, fist bump, or other form of contact when attempting to avoid the spread of germs.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: elbow shake, elbow tap
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From elbow + bump, modelled on fist bump.
Across languages
Translations
19 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Finnish:
isku kyynärpäähän
— hit to the elbow; injury to the elbow caused by such a hit
Finnish:
isku kyynärpäällä
— hit or jab made with the elbow
Catalan:
xoc de colzes
— touching of elbows between two people
Danish:
albuehilsen
— touching of elbows between two people
Dutch:
ellebooggroet
— touching of elbows between two people
Esperanto:
kubuta saluto
— touching of elbows between two people
Finnish:
kyynärpäätervehdys
— touching of elbows between two people
French:
salut du coude
— touching of elbows between two people
Greek:
αγκωναψία
(agkonapsía)
— touching of elbows between two people
Hebrew:
כיף מרפק
— touching of elbows between two people
Indonesian:
salam siku
— touching of elbows between two people
Indonesian:
tos siku
— touching of elbows between two people
Italian:
saluto col gomito
— touching of elbows between two people
Korean:
팔꿈치 인사
(palkkumchi insa)
— touching of elbows between two people
Macedonian:
по́здрав со лакт
(pózdrav so lakt)
— touching of elbows between two people
Macedonian:
поздраву́вање со лакт
(pozdravúvanje so lakt)
— touching of elbows between two people
Norwegian Bokmål:
albuehilsen
— touching of elbows between two people
Spanish:
choque de codos
— touching of elbows between two people
Swedish:
armbågshälsningen
— touching of elbows between two people