What is bank? Pronunciation and usage in English

bank means . Learn how to pronounce and use bank through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of bank

banknoun

/baŋk/
Definition & pronunciation of bank

The pronunciation of "bank" in English is a surprisingly tricky one! It depends on whether you're talking about a financial institution or a slope of land.

Here's a breakdown:

1. Financial Bank (like a bank where you keep money):

  • Pronunciation: /ˈbæŋk/ (rhymes with "rank")
  • Breakdown:
    • ˈbæŋk: This is the key part. The "a" sound is like the "a" in "father."
    • k: A soft, almost silent "k" sound at the end. Think of it as almost disappearing.

2. Slope of Land (like a bank of a river):

  • Pronunciation: /bæŋk/ (rhymes with "hank")
  • Breakdown:
    • bæŋk: The "a" sound is like the "a" in "cat."
    • ŋk: This is the tricky part. The "ng" sound is a nasal sound – you make it by lowering your tongue towards the roof of your mouth and letting air escape through your nose. It's similar to the "ng" in "sing" or "long."

Here’s a helpful way to remember:

  • Financial bank: Think about “bank” as in “rank” – it has two “k”s.
  • Slope of land: Think about “bank” as in “hank” – it has an “ng” sound.

Resources to hear the pronunciation:

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Usage and examples with the word bank in English

Let's break down how to use the word "bank" in English! It's a surprisingly versatile word with multiple meanings. Here's a breakdown, categorized for clarity:

1. Financial Bank (Most Common)

  • Definition: A financial institution that accepts deposits and provides loans. Think of a regular bank where you keep your money and get mortgages.
  • Examples:
    • "I need to go to the bank to deposit a check."
    • "She opened a savings account at the local bank."
    • "The bank offered me a low interest rate on my loan."
    • "He works as a teller at a bank."

2. River Bank (Geographical)

  • Definition: The sloping ground alongside a river or stream.
  • Examples:
    • "We sat on the bank of the river and watched the ducks."
    • "The wildflowers grew along the bank of the stream."
    • "The erosion has weakened the bank of the river."

3. A Row of Things (General)

  • Definition: A series or row of items lined up. This is a very common usage.
  • Examples:
    • "There's a bank of computers in the classroom." (A row of computers)
    • "The store had a bank of shelves filled with books." (A row of shelves)
    • "A bank of clouds covered the sky." (A row/group of clouds)
    • “He sat on a bank of chairs.” (Row of chairs)

4. Slope (Informal)

  • Definition: (Informal) A hillside or slope. Often used with "hill" or "slope".
  • Examples:
    • "Let's climb the bank up to the top of the hill.” (Instead of “Let’s climb the hill”)
    • "We were sliding down the bank."

5. A Layer/Group (Technical/Specific)

  • Definition: (In certain contexts, like in geology or medicine) A layer or a group of something.
  • Examples:
    • "The bank of sediment was thick and muddy." (Layer of sediment)
    • "The doctor examined the bank of lymph nodes." (Group of lymph nodes)

6. (British Slang) A Deposit (Less Common Now)

  • Definition: (Historically) A deposit of something, especially money or goods. This usage is much less common today, particularly in American English.
  • Example: (You might hear this in older literature or British English) "He made a bank with the wheat." (He stored a large amount of wheat)

Tips for Using "Bank" Correctly:

  • Context is key: The meaning of "bank" is almost always determined by the surrounding words and the situation.
  • Be mindful of regional differences: The slang meaning is more common in British English.

Resources for More Information:

To help me give you even more targeted guidance, could you tell me:

  • In what context are you trying to use the word "bank"? (e.g., "I'm writing about a river," "I'm talking about finances," "I'm describing a room")

Synonyms for the word bank

Idioms of the word bank

the Bank of Mum and Dad
(British English, informal)financial support from your parents, especially when you are an adult
  • Without support from the Bank of Mum and Dad, they could find themselves locked out of the housing market.
laugh all the way to the bank
(informal)to make a lot of money easily and feel very pleased about it
    not break the bank
    (informal, humorous)if you say something won’t break the bank, you mean that it won’t cost a lot of money, or more than you can afford
    • We can just get a sandwich if you want—that won’t break the bank.

    Practice with vocabulary bank

    Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks (4 sentences)

    1. The Central _____ announced a hike in interest rates, impacting mortgage lenders nationwide.
    2. After the flash flood, debris was scattered extensively along the river _____.
    3. Please ensure all sensitive documents are stored in a secure _____ to prevent unauthorized access.
    4. Our legal team advises thoroughly reviewing the terms of any major _____ agreement before signing.

    Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (5 questions — there may be multiple correct answers per question)

    1. Which of the following entities typically offers savings accounts and issues credit cards? a) A commercial bank b) A non-profit charity c) A credit union d) A government ministry
    2. Where might you observe signs of a flood's receding water level? a) On the bank of a river b) On a mountain peak c) In the middle of an ocean d) Within a dense forest canopy
    3. Which sentence correctly uses "bank" in an idiomatic or specialized sense? a) You can always bank on his reliability. b) The data bank crashed due to a power surge. c) She went to the bank of the park for a picnic. d) The chef decided to bank the fire overnight.
    4. If you are seeking capital for a small business, which term best describes a financial organization that provides funds in exchange for interest? a) a gallery b) an auditorium c) a lending institution d) an archive
    5. The coastal community built a new _____ to protect against storm surges. a) levee b) cliff c) dune d) plateau

    Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences (3 questions)

    1. Original: The financial institution where I keep my savings recently updated its mobile app. Rewrite the sentence using "bank" or a related word form:
    2. Original: They put their full trust in his ability to manage the complex project. Rewrite the sentence using "bank" or a related word form:
    3. Original: The coastal protection project included building structures to prevent erosion along the shoreline. Rewrite the sentence using a suitable replacement word for "bank":

    Answer:

    Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

    1. The Central bank announced a hike in interest rates, impacting mortgage lenders nationwide.
    2. After the flash flood, debris was scattered extensively along the river bank.
    3. Please ensure all sensitive documents are stored in a secure vault (or repository/archive) to prevent unauthorized access.
    4. Our legal team advises thoroughly reviewing the terms of any major loan (or contract/financial) agreement before signing.

    Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

    1. a) A commercial bank, c) A credit union
    2. a) On the bank of a river
    3. a) You can always bank on his reliability., b) The data bank crashed due to a power surge., d) The chef decided to bank the fire overnight.
    4. c) a lending institution
    5. a) levee

    Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

    1. My bank recently updated its mobile app.
    2. They fully bank on his ability to manage the complex project.
    3. The coastal protection project included building structures to prevent erosion along the coastline (or seashore).

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