Useful English Word or Phrase to Boost Your English: Wonky

What does it mean?

Wonky is an informal UK word meaning crooked, unsteady, wobbly, or not straight. It describes something that isn't sitting or functioning correctly.

Is it positive or negative?

It's slightly negative, but usually said in a humorous or playful way - not serious criticism.

When do you use it?

Use it when something looks uneven, unstable, or off-balance - like a tilted picture frame or a chair with a short leg.

Examples

Example 1: This picture is hanging a bit wonky - can you straighten it

Example 2: Be careful with that chair, it has a wonky leg.

Question for you

Do you have anything in your home that's a bit wonky?

Are you looking for English speaking practice online?

Are you looking for English speaking practice online? Don't let your pronunciation be wonky! If you want clear, natural speech, you've found the right website. I offer online English lessons using Teams, Google Meet, and Zoom for my high-quality classes. My English speaking lessons are perfect if you are not getting enough speaking practice and want to improve your spoken fluency, accuracy, and learn nice, natural vocabulary and expressions directly from a British native speaker. If you want to study English with a British native speaker online, you can find out more about lessons here. For another useful word, see strike a chord.