Phrase guide

prank call

noun · verb · 2 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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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A practical joke played by calling the unsuspecting victim on the telephone, usually pretending to be somebody else.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To call (an unsuspecting person) on the telephone as a practical joke.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: اِتِّصَال مَقْلَب (ittiṣāl maqlab) — practical joke made by calling victim on the telephone
  • Chinese Mandarin: 惡作劇電話 /恶作剧电话 (èzuòjù diànhuà) — practical joke made by calling victim on the telephone
  • Chinese Mandarin: 整蠱電話 /整蛊电话 (zhěnggǔ diànhuà) — practical joke made by calling victim on the telephone
  • Finnish: pilapuhelu — practical joke made by calling victim on the telephone
  • German: Scherzanruf — practical joke made by calling victim on the telephone
  • German: Telefonstreich — practical joke made by calling victim on the telephone
  • Japanese: 悪戯電話 (itazura denwa) — practical joke made by calling victim on the telephone
  • Portuguese: trote — practical joke made by calling victim on the telephone
  • Spanish: chanza telefónica — practical joke made by calling victim on the telephone
  • Swedish: busringning — practical joke made by calling victim on the telephone