A Pang Is Sharp, Sudden and Brief
A pang is a sudden sharp pain or emotion. Its origin is genuinely unknown.
A pang is a sudden sharp pain or a brief intense feeling, as in a pang of hunger, guilt or regret. Its defining quality is duration: a pang is over almost at once, which is why you can feel a pang of conscience but not a pang of grief. Long feelings need other words. Etymologists have never traced it convincingly; it appears in the 1400s from nowhere, perhaps a variant of *prong*. It works for both physical and emotional pain, which few English words manage this neatly.
- A sharp pain. *A pang of hunger.*
- A sudden emotion. *A pang of guilt.*
- Birth pangs. *Birth pangs.*
- A twinge — a near relative. *A twinge.*
- Unknown origin. *Perhaps from prong.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | pang | A pang. |
| Plural | pangs | Pangs. |
| Related | twinge | A twinge. |
| Related | throe | Throes. |
| Possible source | prong | A prong. |
- A pang of hunger struck.Physical.
- She felt a pang of regret.Emotional.
- Its origin is unknown.Etymology.
Words for brief pain
- Pang — sharp, sudden, physical or emotional
- Twinge — smaller and often recurring
- Stab — sharper and more violent
- Throe — a violent spasm, usually plural
- Ache — the opposite, dull and lasting
Origin unknown, recorded from the 1400s, perhaps a variant of *prong* or *prange*.
Can a pang be emotional?
Yes. A pang of guilt or regret is as ordinary as a pang of hunger, provided the feeling is brief.
Where does pang come from?
Nobody knows. It appears in the 1400s with no clear ancestor, possibly a variant of prong.