WordGarden.ioprang
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /prˈæŋ/
US
- /ˈpreɪ̯ŋ/Canadauncountablenoun
Meanings
Noun
a crash or minor accident involving a vehicle
Verb
to crash or damage a vehicle in an accident
Beyond the definition
"Prang" is a British informal word for a small road accident, usually one that leaves a car or another vehicle a bit damaged. You can use it as a noun ("I had a bit of a prang") or a verb ("I pranged the car"). It often suggests a bump or scrape rather than a serious crash, and people sometimes use it to make the accident sound less dramatic. In modern everyday use, it is mostly about vehicles, much like "fender bender" in American English.
The word "prang" is a lively bit of British informal English for a crash or bump, especially a fairly small one involving a vehicle. In everyday modern use, it usually means a minor road accident: a scraped door, a dented panel, or a cracked light rather than a terrible wreck. You can use it as a noun for the accident itself or as a verb for causing that kind of damage.
The term has roots in Royal Air Force slang from the 1940s, where it could be used for damaging or crashing an aircraft. That older sense helps explain the word's sharp, crash-like sound. Over time, the word moved from aircraft to everyday traffic and is now most often used for cars, though it can also be used for other vehicles.
It remains informal, so it fits natural speech better than formal writing. It is strongly associated with British English and is also heard in Australian English, but it is rare in American English, where "fender bender" is the usual match. So if someone in the UK says they "pranged" the car, they usually mean there was an annoying little accident, not a disaster.
Examples
- 1
Travel delay
I had a prang on the way to work, so I’ll be late.
- Usage
mainly UK, informal
- 2
Minor damage
The car only had a small dent after the prang.
- 3
Parking mistake
He pranged his mum’s car while trying to park.
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- prangnounverb