The exact lemma appears at position 3,133 in the cited OpenSubtitles-derived Dutch 50k token list. That is a corpus signal, not search volume or a claim that every sense is equally common. Forms, glosses, pronunciation and cited examples are adapted from English Wiktionary via Kaikki under CC BY-SA 4.0. See sources and modifications.
How klinken is pronounced
IPA: /ˈklɪŋ.kə(n)/ · Syllables: klin·ken
Pronunciation can vary by region and speaking context. Treat the transcription as a compact reference, then compare it with current native audio and practise the verb inside a phrase rather than as an isolated sound.
What klinken means
to sound
to clink glasses
The English gloss identifies a sense, not a one-word substitution that works in every sentence. Check the object, preposition, reflexive pronoun or separable element in the Dutch example before transferring the verb to a new situation.
Klinken conjugation table
| Tense | Subject | Dutch form |
|---|---|---|
| Present | ik | klink |
| Present | jij (subject first) | klinkt |
| Present | hij/zij/het | klinkt |
| Present | wij/jullie/zij | klinken |
| Simple past | singular | klonk |
| Simple past | plural | klonken |
| Past participle | — | geklonken |
The table shows the standard subject-first jij anchor. Inversion after jij and formal u can require a different surface form. For separable verbs, the cited forms may already show the element in its natural main-clause position. In perfect constructions, choose the auxiliary required by the actual meaning and construction; do not attach hebben or zijn mechanically.
Translated klinken examples
De bel in de kerk begon te klinken toen de dienst begon.
The bell in the church started to sound when the service began.
De muziek uit de luidsprekers klinkt helder en zuiver.
The music from the speakers sounds clear and pure.
De lach van de kinderen klinkt als muziek in mijn oren.
The laughter of the children sounds like music to my ears.
We willen graag een toast uitbrengen, laten we de glazen klinken!
We'd like to propose a toast, let's clink glasses!
Na de ceremonie klinkten de gasten hun glazen om het gelukkige paar te feliciteren.
After the ceremony, the guests clinked glasses to congratulate the happy couple.
Op oudejaarsavond klinken mensen vaak hun glazen om het nieuwe jaar te verwelkomen.
On New Year's Eve, people often clink glasses to welcome the new year.
These examples are citation-backed language data. Use them to notice the verb's partners and sentence position. Then change only one detail at a time—subject, time, place or object—so that your next sentence stays grammatical and remains connected to a real communicative purpose.
Turn the reference into speaking practice
- Read the first example once and identify the finite verb, subject and any required particle or preposition.
- Build a new present-tense message with klink or klinkt and add a concrete time or place.
- Move the same event into the past with klonk; keep the meaning stable while changing the timeline.
- Use geklonken in a complete result message after checking the correct auxiliary for that construction.
Record all four messages without restarting. Listen once for meaning and sentence order, then once for the target form. Correct only the first error that changes meaning or blocks the listener, and repeat the sentence with one new detail. This creates retrieval practice rather than table recitation.
Self-check
- The chosen sense matches the situation.
- The finite form agrees with the subject.
- The time marker and verb tense tell the same timeline.
- Any separable element, reflexive pronoun, object or fixed preposition is present.
- The sentence contains enough detail for another person to respond.
Questions about klinken
What does klinken mean?
to sound; to clink glasses.
What is the past tense of klinken?
The cited standard singular anchor is klonk and the plural anchor is klonken.
What is the past participle of klinken?
The cited past participle is geklonken. Verify the auxiliary in the sentence you actually want to say.
Use klinken in a recorded answer
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