Standard Lemma guide

knick-knack

noun · 1 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /ˈnɪkˌnæk/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: N IH1 K N AE1 K Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A small ornament or other object of minor value.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • 1985, Herbert Kretzmer, "Master of the House" (song) in Les Misérables Picking up their knick-knacks when they can't see straight

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Reduplication of knack.

Across languages

Translations

28 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: дребно украшение (drebno ukrašenie) — a small ornament of minor value
  • Catalan: bibelot — a small ornament of minor value
  • Catalan: galindaina — a small ornament of minor value
  • Czech: cetka — a small ornament of minor value
  • Dutch: snuisterij — a small ornament of minor value
  • French: bibelot — a small ornament of minor value
  • French: colifichet — a small ornament of minor value
  • Georgian: სამშვენისი (samšvenisi) — a small ornament of minor value
  • German: Schnickschnack — a small ornament of minor value
  • German: Krimskrams — a small ornament of minor value
  • Greek: μπιχλιμπίδι (bichlimpídi) — a small ornament of minor value
  • Indonesian: tetek bengek — a small ornament of minor value
  • Indonesian: pernak-pernik — a small ornament of minor value
  • Italian: chincaglieria — a small ornament of minor value
  • Polish: bibelot — a small ornament of minor value
  • Polish: szpargał — a small ornament of minor value
  • Polish: błyskotka — a small ornament of minor value
  • Polish: cacko — a small ornament of minor value
  • Portuguese: quinquilharia — a small ornament of minor value
  • Spanish: baratija — a small ornament of minor value
  • Spanish: bujería — a small ornament of minor value
  • Spanish: cachivache — a small ornament of minor value
  • Spanish: chalchihuite — a small ornament of minor value
  • Spanish: tiliche — a small ornament of minor value
  • Spanish: achín — a small ornament of minor value
  • Spanish: chunche — a small ornament of minor value
  • Spanish: pacota — a small ornament of minor value
  • Swedish: krimskrams — a small ornament of minor value