Funky means unusual and stylish, with character: funky lamps made from bike parts. About music it means with a strong, catchy groove: a funky bass line. In informal American English it also means smelling bad: the towels smell funky. The verb tells you which: look funky is praise, smell funky isn't.
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funky clothes / furniture / music; smell funky
- The café has funky lamps made from old bicycle parts.
- A funky bass line runs through the whole track.
- The damp towels smell a bit funky.
What changed
First versionThose colourful lamps look funkily.
RevisionThose colourful lamps look funky.
We often describe things with adverbs, as in made beautifully, so look funkily can seem right. But after look and smell meaning seem or have a smell, you describe the thing itself, so you need an adjective: look funky.
Stylish means fashionable, including classic and simple. Funky means stylish in an unusual, bold way. Funk is the music style, and funky is the adjective from it.
Your turn
In 'The forgotten towels smell funky', funky most likely means ___.
Show the answer
unpleasant-smelling — Forgotten towels and the verb smell point to an unpleasant smell. Nothing here is about fashion.
Describe an unusual piece of clothing or furniture with funky, making it clear it's a compliment.
She found a funky green lamp that makes the plain room feel more cheerful.
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