Gawky Meaning in English
word
ˈɡɔki
GAW-kee
ɡˈɔːki
GAW-kee
Definition
Tall, awkward, and often moving in a clumsy or uncoordinated way, especially describing teenagers or young people.
Usage & Nuances
'Gawky' is informal and mildly negative, but not mean-spirited. Commonly used for physical awkwardness during puberty. Often paired with words like 'teenager,' 'kid,' or 'walk.' Not used for objects.
Spanish: torpe - desgarbadoPortuguese (BR): desajeitado - desengonçadoPortuguese (PT): desajeitado - desengonçadoChinese (Simplified): 笨拙的 - 傻里傻气的Chinese (Traditional): 笨拙的 - 傻裏傻氣的Hindi: भद्दा - अनाड़ीArabic: أخرق - غريب الأطوارBengali: আনাড়ি - অদক্ষ (দেহভঙ্গি)Russian: неуклюжийJapanese: ぎこちない - 不器用な（体の動き）Vietnamese: vụng về - lóng ngóngKorean: 어색한 - 덜렁거리는Turkish: sakarca - hantalUrdu: بدشکل - بھدا (حرکت میں)Indonesian: canggung - kikuk
Example Sentences
He is a gawky teenager with big feet.
basic
The gawky boy bumped into the table.
basic
She felt gawky at her first dance class.
basic
Don’t worry if you feel a bit gawky—everyone does at that age.
natural
His gawky walk made everyone smile, but he took it in stride.
natural
At that height, it’s easy to feel gawky until you grow into your body.
natural