どかっと

also: どかと

ど

か

っ

と

Meanings

adverb

with a thud; plopping down heavily

onomatopoeic or mimetic word

Mimetic adverb describing a heavy object landing or being placed with a dull, solid sound. Often used for sitting down heavily or dropping something weighty.

彼かれは疲つかれてソファにどかっと座すわった。
Exhausted, he plopped down heavily onto the sofa.
大おおきな荷に物もつを床ゆかにどかっと置おいた。
He put the large luggage down on the floor with a thud.

Written forms

ドカッと
Katakana spelling, often used for emphasis or in informal writing.
ドカっと
Mixed-kana variant; less common but seen in casual contexts.

Similar words

どしん
どしん also describes a heavy thud or impact, but often implies a deeper, more resonant sound or a larger object, while どかっと can suggest a slightly more abrupt or careless plopping motion.
どさっと
どさっと is similar but often used for a mass of things falling or being dumped, like a pile of books or laundry, whereas どかっと is more commonly for a single heavy object or a person sitting down heavily.

Etymology

Onomatopoeic formation from the sound どか (doka), representing a heavy, dull impact, combined with the geminate and quotative と. The exact origin is uncertain, but it follows a common pattern for mimetic adverbs in Japanese.