ankle

IPA/ˈæŋkl/
KK[ˈæŋkəl]IPA/ˈæŋkl/

ankle — noun

  • anklesingular
  • anklesplural

1. the part of your body where your foot bends and joins your leg, or the slim sect

1.nounA2
Definition

the part of your body where your foot bends and joins your leg, or the slim section of your leg right above the foot.

Example

Amara twisted her ankle while running down the muddy path.

collocation: twist one's ankle

The doctor wrapped a bandage tightly around Mateo's swollen ankle.

typical context: injury and treatment

Common collocations
  • sprain one's ankle
  • twist one's ankle
  • break one's ankle
  • weak ankle
  • ankle support
  • up to one's ankles
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

sprain/twist/break + one's ankle

up to one's ankles in + noun

Usage Note

Frequently used with verbs of injury (sprain, twist, break, sprain) and as the first element of compounds (ankle boot, ankle support, ankle bracelet).

Common Mistakes

I hurt my ankel.
I hurt my ankle.
common spelling slip; the silent 'le' ending follows 'ank'.
She broke the ankle.
She broke her ankle.
body parts take a possessive (her/his/my), not the definite article 'the'.

Word family

  • ankled
    adjectiveC2
  • anklet
    nounC1

Common collocations

Nouns

  • ankle support
  • ankle boot
  • ankle bracelet
  • ankle injury
  • ankle sprain

Phrases

  • up to one's ankles
  • twist an ankle
  • sprain an ankle
  • break an ankle

Prepositions

  • around the ankle
  • above the ankle
  • below the ankle

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Comes from Old English 'ancleow', related to Old High German 'anchala' and Old Norse 'ǫkkla'. All trace back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning the angled joint of the leg. The modern spelling 'ankle' settled in Middle English under Norse influence.