Klick

Klick is a term with multiple meanings in different languages and contexts. In German, Klick is the standard spelling for the onomatopoeic sound of a short, sharp click. It is used to describe the act of pressing a button or the sound produced by mechanical parts, such as a locking mechanism or a confirming click in a device interface. In everyday language, ein Klick can refer to the action of clicking with a mouse or selecting an option in software.

In English-language military slang, a klick (often written with a k) denotes one kilometer, or 1000 meters. It is used in field reporting and navigation, e.g., three klicks from the target. The origin is uncertain; the term has been common in Western armed forces since the mid-20th century.

Apart from these, Klick may appear as a surname or as the name of businesses or products; in such uses it is a proper noun rather than a common concept. In computing and UI terminology, the English click remains the standard spelling for activating user interface elements, with Klick appearing in German-language texts as an adapted loanword.

Klick thus functions as a linguistic term with distinct meanings across contexts: a sound or action in German, a distance measure in English military slang, and a proper noun in various uses.