noun · verb · 6 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:/twɜɹk/
General-American:[thw̥ɝk]
Received-Pronunciation:/twɜːk/
Received-Pronunciation:[tw̥ɜːk]
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)k
1
noun
Meaning 1
Synonym of twerking (“a sexually-provocative dance, involving the performer thrusting their hips back from a low squatting stance while shaking their buttocks”).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: twerking
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A fitful movement similar to a twitch or jerk.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dated
Qualifier: original sense
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A puny or insignificant person, generally male; a twerp.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US, dated, slang
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
An abrupt call, such as that made by the California quail.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To dance in a sexually-provocative way using hip thrusts in a low squatting stance while shaking the buttocks; to take part in twerking.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
To twitch or jerk.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dated
Qualifier: original sense
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Blend of twitch + jerk. The "sexually-provocative dance" sense was particularly popularized since c. 2000 by hip-hop from the United States of America, and again in 2013 by singer Miley Cyrus.
Blend of twerp + jerk, found primarily in the 1930s-era works of Walter Dumaux Edmonds.
Onomatopoeic, possibly coined by Roger Tory Peterson.
Across languages
Translations
28 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Chinese Cantonese:
電臀 /电臀
(din6 tyun4)
— to take part in twerking (the sexually-provocative dance)
Chinese Cantonese:
跳電臀舞 /跳电臀舞
(tiu3 din6 tyun4 mou5)
— to take part in twerking (the sexually-provocative dance)
Chinese Mandarin:
電臀 /电臀
(diàntún)
— to take part in twerking (the sexually-provocative dance)
Chinese Mandarin:
跳電臀舞 /跳电臀舞
(tiào diàntúnwǔ)
— to take part in twerking (the sexually-provocative dance)
Finnish:
twerkata
— to take part in twerking (the sexually-provocative dance)
German:
twerken
— to take part in twerking (the sexually-provocative dance)
German:
lasziv bewegen
— to take part in twerking (the sexually-provocative dance)
Hebrew:
עִנְטֵז
('intéz)
— to take part in twerking (the sexually-provocative dance)
Hungarian:
riszál
— to take part in twerking (the sexually-provocative dance)
Hungarian:
twerkel
— to take part in twerking (the sexually-provocative dance)
Italian:
twerkare
— to take part in twerking (the sexually-provocative dance)
Māori:
onioni
— to take part in twerking (the sexually-provocative dance)
Māori:
tīonioni
— to take part in twerking (the sexually-provocative dance)
Persian:
کچول
— to take part in twerking (the sexually-provocative dance)
Persian:
کاچول
— to take part in twerking (the sexually-provocative dance)
Polish:
twerkować
— to take part in twerking (the sexually-provocative dance)
Portuguese:
rebolar
— to take part in twerking (the sexually-provocative dance)
Russian:
тве́ркать
(tvérkatʹ)
— to take part in twerking (the sexually-provocative dance)
Russian:
тве́ркнуть
(tvérknutʹ)
— to take part in twerking (the sexually-provocative dance)
Russian:
твёркать
(tvjórkatʹ)
— to take part in twerking (the sexually-provocative dance)
Russian:
твёркнуть
(tvjórknutʹ)
— to take part in twerking (the sexually-provocative dance)
Spanish:
perrear
— to take part in twerking (the sexually-provocative dance)
Spanish:
sandunguear
— to take part in twerking (the sexually-provocative dance)
Spanish:
twerkear
— to take part in twerking (the sexually-provocative dance)
Swedish:
twerka
— to take part in twerking (the sexually-provocative dance)
Tagalog:
kaldag
— to take part in twerking (the sexually-provocative dance)
Turkish:
twerklemek
— to take part in twerking (the sexually-provocative dance)
Turkish:
twerk yapmak
— to take part in twerking (the sexually-provocative dance)
