Definition
A gadget or device whose real name you've forgotten or don't know; a thing-a-ma-jig.
Etymology
Origin unclear, possibly from 1920s American slang; may be related to 'thingamajig' but etymology is speculative. Became popularized in the 20th century as a placeholder word.
Kelly Says
Every language needs throwaway words for 'that thing'—English has dohickey, doohickey, thingamajig, whatchamacallit, and gadget. The 'hickey' part might come from 'Hickory,' or it might just be a made-up sound that felt fun to say.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
ነገር (neger)
ne-ger
ARالعربية
شيء (shayʾ)
shayʾ
BNবাংলা
কিছু (kisu)
ki-shu
ELΕλληνικά
είδος (eidous)
ei-dos
FAفارسی
چیز (cheez)
chee-z
FISuomi
tavaraa
ta-va-raa
HEעברית
דבר (devar)
de-var
HIहिन्दी
चीज़ (cheez)
chee-z
IDBahasa Indonesia
barang
ba-rang
JA日本語
thingy (もの)
thing-y (mo-no)
KO한국어
알 수 없는 것 (al su eon-neun geot)
al su eon-neun geot
MRMR
डोहिकी (dohicki)
doh-icki
MSBahasa Melayu
barang
ba-rang
MYမြန်မာ
လူကြိုက် (lu-kya-ik)
lu-kya-ik
NLNederlands
dingetje
ding-etje
PAPA
ਡੋਹਿਕੀ (dohīki)
doh-īki
RUРусский
штука (shchuka)
shchu-ka
TEతెలుగు
ఏదైనా (ēdainā)
ē-dain-ā
UKУкраїнська
штука (shchuka)
shchu-ka
URاردو
چیز (cheez)
chee-z
VITiếng Việt
đồ vật
do vat