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。

Related 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.

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.

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.