How Do You Spell WIGWAG?

Pronunciation: [wˈɪɡwaɡ] (IPA)

The word wigwag is spelled using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as /ˈwɪɡ.wæɡ/. The first syllable is pronounced as "wig" with a short "i" sound, while the second syllable is pronounced as "wag" with a short "a" sound. The word refers to a type of signaling system that uses two flags or lights waved in a specific pattern to communicate a message. The correct spelling of wigwag helps ensure clear communication and a standardization of the signaling system.

WIGWAG Meaning and Definition

  1. Wigwag can be defined as a verb or a noun, depending on the context. As a verb, wigwag refers to the motion of rapidly and repeatedly moving or waving an object from side to side, often to capture attention or communicate a signal. This term is commonly associated with the technique of signaling or flagging messages using a specialized set of motions or flags. Wigwagging is frequently employed by traffic controllers or railway personnel to direct vehicles or trains by making specific movements with flags or portable signaling devices, typically indicating whether to proceed, stop, or take precautionary measures.

    As a noun, a wigwag is a mechanical or electrical signaling device that is designed to produce distinct motion patterns or signals. One of the most recognizable forms of a wigwag is the crossing signal at railway intersections. This pendulum-like device, mounted on a tall pole, swings back and forth, communicating a warning to drivers and pedestrians of an approaching train. Wigwags in this sense are primarily used in scenarios where visibility may be limited or when a traditional traffic signal system may not be suitable.

    The term "wigwag" is thought to have originated from the combination of the words "wiggle" and "wag," highlighting the back-and-forth movement characteristic of the action or device.

Common Misspellings for WIGWAG

Etymology of WIGWAG

The word "wigwag" is derived from the Algonquian language family, specifically the Ojibwe language. The Ojibwe word "wiikwemikoong" (or variations of it) is the root from which "wigwag" originated. In Ojibwe, "wiikwemikoong" refers to a type of shelter traditionally used by Indigenous peoples of North America, commonly known as a wigwam. Over time, the term "wigwag" came to be associated with a specific method of visual signaling using flags or lights, which resembles the back-and-forth movement of a swinging wigwam door. The word "wigwag" eventually entered English vocabulary to describe the signaling technique, usually in the context of communication between trains or ships.

Plural form of WIGWAG is WIGWAGS

Conjugate verb Wigwag

CONDITIONAL

I would wigwag
you would wigwag
he/she/it would wigwag
we would wigwag
they would wigwag

CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS

I would be wigwagging
you would be wigwagging
he/she/it would be wigwagging
we would be wigwagging
they would be wigwagging

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have wigwag
you would have wigwag
he/she/it would have wigwag
we would have wigwag
they would have wigwag

CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I would have been wigwagging
you would have been wigwagging
he/she/it would have been wigwagging
we would have been wigwagging
they would have been wigwagging

FUTURE

I will wigwag
you will wigwag
he/she/it will wigwag
we will wigwag
they will wigwag

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be wigwagging
you will be wigwagging
he/she/it will be wigwagging
we will be wigwagging
they will be wigwagging

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have wigwagged
you will have wigwagged
he/she/it will have wigwagged
we will have wigwagged
they will have wigwagged

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been wigwagging
you will have been wigwagging
he/she/it will have been wigwagging
we will have been wigwagging
they will have been wigwagging

IMPERATIVE

you wigwag
we let´s wigwag

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to wigwag

PAST

I wigwagged
you wigwagged
he/she/it wigwagged
we wigwagged
they wigwagged

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was wigwagging
you were wigwagging
he/she/it was wigwagging
we were wigwagging
they were wigwagging

PAST PARTICIPLE

wigwagged

PAST PERFECT

I had wigwagged
you had wigwagged
he/she/it had wigwagged
we had wigwagged
they had wigwagged

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been wigwagging
you had been wigwagging
he/she/it had been wigwagging
we had been wigwagging
they had been wigwagging

PRESENT

I wigwag
you wigwag
he/she/it wigwags
we wigwag
they wigwag

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am wigwagging
you are wigwagging
he/she/it is wigwagging
we are wigwagging
they are wigwagging

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

wigwagging

PRESENT PERFECT

I have wigwagged
you have wigwagged
he/she/it has wigwagged
we have wigwagged
they have wigwagged

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been wigwagging
you have been wigwagging
he/she/it has been wigwagging
we have been wigwagging
they have been wigwagging

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