# Dang

/ˈdæŋ/ (US) · /dˈæŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dang
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. expressing surprise or annoyance

interjection · CEFR B2 · Informal · American English

you use this to show you are surprised, disappointed, or annoyed without using a strong swear word.

For teachers: a euphemistic interjection used to express mild frustration, disappointment, or astonishment.

- Dang, I forgot my keys in the car again.
- Dang, I really thought we had enough time to finish the presentation before the client arrived.

### 2. very

adverb · CEFR B2 · Informal · American English

used to mean 'very' or 'extremely' when you want to emphasize something.

For teachers: an intensifier used for emphasis, functioning as a milder alternative to 'damned' or 'damn'.

- That was a dang good burger.
- It is dang near impossible to find a parking spot in this part of the city on a Saturday night.

### 3. annoying

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal · American English

used to show you are annoyed by something or someone.

For teachers: an attributive adjective used to express irritation or emphasis regarding the noun it modifies.

- I can't get this dang jar to open.
- Every time I try to start this dang lawnmower, the pull cord gets stuck.

### 4. a small amount

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · American English

used in phrases like 'give a dang' to mean you care about something.

For teachers: used in negative constructions to represent a negligible amount of care or consideration.

- He doesn't seem to give a dang about what people think of his clothes.
- After the way they treated her, she didn't give a dang whether the project succeeded or failed.

Usage: Almost always used in the negative phrase 'not give a dang'.

## Examples

- Dang, I forgot my keys in the car.
- Dang, I really thought we were going to win that game in the final minute.
- While some might reach for a stronger expletive when their computer crashes, he usually just mutters a quiet 'dang' and starts the reboot process.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.