Cross-linguistic onomatopoeias

Because of the nature of onomatopoeia, there are many words which show a similar pronunciation in the languages of the world. The following is a list of some conventional examples:

Human sounds

Consuming food or drink

Language Biting Eating food Drinking Swallowing Brushing teeth
Afrikaans nom, gomf gloeg gloeg gloeg
Albanian ham, kërr, krrëk ham-ham, njam-njam llup, gllup fësh-fësh, fër-fër
Arabic hum-hum humm
Basque kosk, hozk mauka mauka zurrut klik
Batak nyaum nyaum guk
Bengali গব গব (gob gob), গবা গব (goba gob), সপা সপ (sopa sop) dhak dhak dhnok gela
Bulgarian хрус (hrus), мляс (mlias) ам ам (am am) гльок гльок (glyok glyok) гъл (gull)
Catalan nyac nyam nyam glup glu glu
Chinese, Mandarin 咕咚 咕咚 (gū-dōng gū-dōng), 咕嚕咕嚕 (gū-lū gū-lū) (shua)
Croatian gric njam njam glp glp, glu glu gut
Czech chřup [xr̝up], chroup [xroup] ham, ňam ňam [ɲam], mňam mňam [mɲam] glo glo
Danish haps [hɑb̥s][dan 1] nam nam, mam mam slurk, glub glub, gulp
Dutch hap jam jam slurp, klok klok klok slik
English chomp yum yum, om nom nom, slurp slurp slurp, glug gulp
Estonian amps näm näm, nämm nämm kull kull lonks
Finnish rousk nam nam, nami nami klup
French miam, crounche miam miam glouglouglou gloups
German mampf mampf mampf, hamm hamm schlürf, gluck schluck
Gujarati gudgud
Hebrew אָממ אָממ (amm amm) שלוּק (shluk) צחצוח (tsikhtsúakh) (שקשוק shikshúk refers to "shaking teeth")
Hungarian hamm nyam-nyam, csám-csám glu-glu, glugy-glugy sika-sika
Icelandic namm namm glúgg glúgg
Indonesian krauk nyam nyam glek glek, gluk gluk glek sruk sruk
Italian gnam gnam gnam glu glu glu glu
Japanese ムシャムシャ (musha-musha) [jpn 1] モグモグ (mogu mogu),[jpn 2] パクパク (paku paku)[jpn 3] ゴクゴク (goku goku) ごくっ (goku)[jpn 4] シャカシャカ (shaka shaka)
Kazakh лық-лық (lyq-lyq), сылқ-сылқ (sylq-sylq) сылқ (sylq)
Korean 와작와작 (wajak-wajak) 냠냠 (nyam nyam), 얌얌 (yam yam), 쩝쩝 (jjeop jjeop) 꿀꺽 꿀꺽 (kkul kkeok kkul kkeok) 꿀꺽 (kkul kkeok) 치카치카 (chika chika)
Kyrgyz шам-шум (sham-shum)
Latvian am ņam ņam gul gul
Lithuanian niam niam kliuk kliuk
Malay ngap ngap nyam nyam nyam glup glup, teguk
Malayalam ഞംഞം (njam-njam), കറുമുറു (karu-muru) (hard/crunchy)
Marathi कुर्रुम-कुर्रुम (krum-krum) मम् मम् (mam mam) गट-गट (gaT gaT) गटक (gatak)
Norwegian nam nam
Persian qolop-qolop
Polish chap, am, chrup (crunch) mniam mniam, chrup chrup (if hard), mlask gul gul gul gul szuru szuru, szuru buru
Portuguese nhac, nhoc nham nham glup glup
Romanian hap, haț miam miam, niam niam, pleasc-pleasc gâl-gâl gogâlț
Russian хрум (khrum) ам (am) (quick), ням-ням (njam-njam) бульк бульк (bulk-bulk)
Serbian гриц (gric) [grits] њам-њам (njam-njam)
Slovak chrum mňam, ham glo, glo-glo
Spanish ñam ñam ñam glu glu glu, glup glup
Swedish nam-nam nam nam glugg glugg, klunk klunk gulp
Tagalog nam nam lunók tsuka tsuka
Tamil karukk murukk
Thai งั่บ (ngap), ง่ำ (ngam) ง่ำ ง่ำ (ngam ngam) อึ้ก (uek), เอื้อก (ueak) อึก อึก (uek uek)
Turkish hart, hurt ham hum, nam nam hüüp, lıkır lıkır gulp
Ukrainian ам (am), ням (niam), хрум (khrum) (if crunchy), кусь (kus) ням-ням (niam-niam), хрусь-хрусь (khrus-khrus) (if crunchy), хлам-хлам (khlam-khlam) (if hastily), хряп-хряп (khriap-khriap) (if hastily) бульк-бульк (bulk-bulk), глип-глип (glyp-glyp), ґлаґ-ґлаґ (glug-glug) ґольґ (golg) шурх-шурх (shurkh-shurkh), шорх-шорх (shorkh-shorkh)
Vietnamese ngoạm măm măm, nhăm nhăm, nhồm nhoàm, chàm chạp ực ực, ừng ực

Bodily functions and involuntary sounds

Language Heart beating Belching Coughing Flatulence Sneezing Snoring Yawning
Afrikaans doef doef poep atiesjoe snork
Albanian pam-pam, bam-bam grrom këm-këm, gam-gam përrpërr tësh, açu, eçu gërr, grro
Arabic tum tum, رطم رطم (raṭama-raṭama) draat, fassi, or tooz[ara 1] hatchu[ara 1]
Armenian thurr, tuss
Basque taup taup, taupa taupa korrok tuju, tuju turrut, purrun usin zurrun-zurrun
Batak bar-bar-bar org put atcim korrrr
Bengali দুরদুর (durdur), দুরুদুরু (duruduru), লাব ডুব (lāb dub), dhuk-puk হাঁচি (hąci), hąccho bhnosh bhnosh hai
Bulgarian туп-туп (tup tup) уриг (urig) пръц (prats) апчих (apchih), ких (kih) хърр (hurr)
Catalan tu-tum tu-tum, pu-pum pu-pum rot cof, cof prut atxum, atxís, atxim rrrr, rau-rau uà, uaah
Cebuano hahay
Chinese, Cantonese 卜卜 (buk4 buk4) oek4 or oet4 [œʔ²¹] kem4 (kem2) but4, but4 but4 乞嗤 (hāt-chī) got4 syu4, got4 got2 seng1, goet4 goet2 seng1
Chinese, Mandarin 怦怦 (pēng pēng)[zho 1] 阿嚏 (ā tì)[zho 2] 呼噜 (hū lu)[zho 3]
Croatian tup tup, bum bum apćih, apćiha zijev
Czech buch buch krk prd hepčí [ˈɦɛpt͡ʃiː] chrrr zív
Danish dunk dunk, bank bank bøvs [bœwˀs],[dan 2] ræb [ʁεˀb][dan 3] prut, fis atju, hatju snork gab
Dutch boenk boenk, boem boem hatsjoe, hatsjie snurk, zzz
English thump thump burp fart, toot achoo zzz yawn
Estonian tuks tuks krooks köh köh puuks atsihh, atsih, aptsihh, aptsih norr
Finnish tu-tum, pu-pum röyh köh köh prut, prööt atshii, atshiu, atsiuh, ätshii, ätshiu, ätsiuh krooh pyyh haukotus
French boum boum beurp koff koff, teu-heu prout atchoum, atchi, atcha ron pchi, (rrr) zzz ouaaah
German ba-dumm, bumm bumm, poch poch rülps pups hatschi, hatschu chrr-pfüüh, schnarch, zzz, chhhh gähn
Greek ντουκ ντουκ (duk-duk) αψ(ι)ου (aps(i)u)
Hebrew בּוּם־בּוּם (bum-búm) גְּרֶפְּס (greps) פּוּק (pook), פלוץ (flotz) אַפְּצִ'י apchi[heb 1] חְררר (xrrr)
Hindi daḍak (pronounced [ˈd̪əɖək]) achhee
Hungarian ta-tamm böff köh-köh hapci hrr pityipű
Icelandic atsjú
Indonesian dag-dig-dug, deg-deg erk uhuk-uhuk pret, prett, tuut hacciihh grookkk hoam
Italian tu tump rutt prot etciú ronf, zzz
Japanese (nervous excitement) ドキドキ (doki doki), (suspense, thrill)[jpn 5] ゲップ (geppu) (bu), (pu) ハクション (hakushon)[jpn 6] ぐうぐう gu-gu[jpn 7] フワアーア fuwaāa
Kannada dub bub, dava dava
Kazakh дүрс-дүрс (du'rs-du'rs) парт (part), парт-пұрт (part-purt) әпшу (apshu) қорр (qorr), қорр-қорр (qorr-qorr)
Korean 두근두근 (dugeun dugeun) 꺼억 (kkeo-eok) 뿡 (ppung) 에취 (echwi) 드르렁 (deureureong)
Latin ruct prox
Latvian tuk-tuk ačī, apčī žāv
Lithuanian tuk tuk pirst apčiū, apči
Macedonian туп туп (tup tup) апчиха (apchiha)
Malay dup dap dup dap ə~kk, bəkk pro~t, pret, poot achom, achum krrohh krrohh, dengkur haaa, nguap
Marathi धड धड (dhad dhad), धक-धक (dhak dhak) ढुस्स (dhuss), ढुम (dhum) आच्छीं (acchin), आच्छू (acchoo) घोर (ghor), घुर्र (ghurr)
Navajo tsʼidog
Nepali dhuk dhuk हाइ (haaai)
Norwegian dunk dunk aatsjoo
Persian tāp-o-tūp, tāp-tāp ārūγ pup achu xor-o-pof, xor-nāse
Polish bum bum, bu-bum bek prrr(yt), prut a-psik chrrr, chrrr-pśśś ziew
Portuguese tun-tum burp[por 1] pum atchim, atchô[por 1] uah
Romanian râg (a râgâi = to burp) pârț hapciu sfor
Russian тук-тук (tuk-tuk) пук (puk) апчхи (apchkhi) хр-р-р (khrrr)
Serbian туп-туп (tup-tup) трт (trt) апћиха (apćiha)
Sinhalese හචිස් (hacis)
Slovak grg hapčí
Slovene ačih, ačiha
Spanish bum bum bum, tucutún tucutún tjum, tjum prt achu, achís, achú
Swedish du-dunk, du-dunk rap prutt atjoo snark gäsp
Tagalog dub dub dub dub, tibók tibók ebb purorót, utót hatsíng, bahíng kok-sss hikab
Tamil lappu-tappu karukk murukk a-choo
Telugu lab-dab
Thai ตุ้บ ตุ้บ (tup tup), ตึ้ก ตั้ก (tuek tak) เอิ่ก (oek) ปู้ด (puut), ป้าด (pät) ฮัดเช่ย (hatchoei), ฮัดชิ่ว (hatchio) ครอก ฟี้ (khrok fi), ครอก ครอก (khrok khrok) ฮ่าว (hao)
Turkish güm güm, küt küt, güp güp gark zart, zort, pırt hapşu hor
Urdu dhakdhak
Vietnamese thình thịch, bình bịch phẹt, bủm, địt hắt xì, ắt xì khò, khò khò oáp, ngáp

Cries of distress

Language Baby crying Scream Shriek
Afrikaans
Albanian ua-ua, uëë au, oh, ai,
Arabic وع وع (wa'-wa' ) أي (ai)[ara 2]
Azerbaijani uf
Basque ai, aiei, epa
Batak nguek nguek alale ei
Belarusian ай (aj)
Bengali ওয়া ওয়া oaa oaa
Bulgarian уаа уаа (uaa uaa) ай (aj), ау (au), ох (oh), ой (oj)
Catalan anguèè ai, au, ui, uix hiii, crii
Chinese, Mandarin 哇哇 (wā wā)[zho 4] 啊 (ā), 噢 (ō), 哎呀 (āiyā), 哎哟 (āiyō)
Croatian jao, joj, uaijh, au, auč
Czech bé bé [bɛːbɛː] au, jau
Danish vræl [ˈvʁεːˀl][dan 4] av
Dutch au, auw iek
English wah-wah[eng 1] ah, arghh ow, ouch, yeow, yow, agh, eek, yikes, oof gah, eek, yikes
Estonian ää-ää ai, oi
Finnish byääh, yää au, ai, auts iik, kääk
French ouin ouin aïe, ouille, ayoye (Quebec), ouch (Quebec), aw (Quebec), ouaille (Belgium) hii
Galician ai
German wäh-wäh au, aua, ah, autsch uwah, waah, ieh
Greek ουά-ουά (ouá-ouá) /uaua/[gre 1] ωχ (òkh)
Haitian Creole ay
Hebrew אָח (àx),[heb 2] אָי (ài), אױ װײ (oy vey)
Hindi आहा (àhhà), वाह-वाह (hhàvh-hhàvh)
Hungarian oá oá , á, jaj
Icelandic ái, ói, æi
Indonesian owe-owe aduh, ai, aih, awww wao, huwah
Irish aigh
Italian uè-uè ahi, ahia, ohi aah, iih
Japanese オギャ- (ogyaa)[jpn 8] ギャー (gyā) きゃあ (kyaa)[jpn 9]
Kazakh іңгә-іңгә (in'ga-in'ga)
Korean 응애-응애 (eung'ae-eung'ae) 아 (a), 아야 (aya), 꺄 (kkya)
Kyrgyz ыңаа-ыңаа (yngaa-yngaa)
Latvian vai, au, ā ai
Lithuanian ai, oi
Macedonian уф (uf)
Malay uwek-uwek, wek-wek aduh, adoi, adoiyai, opocot, alamak, omakkau, aaah, haish iish, eee, iyek
Marathi वँ वँ (waan waan) आ आ (aa aa), आऽई (aaee) आऽई (aaee), ईऽ (ee)
Navajo ayá
Nepali bzzt(?)
Norwegian au
Pashtu ooauy, why
Persian vang-vang آخ (āx), وای (vāy) آی (āy)
Polish łee ała (stressed on the last syllable), ła, , auuu, auć (possibly borrowed from English or directly from German), aj aaa
Portuguese buá buá[por 1] ah, au, ui[por 1] ai[por 1]
Romanian oa-oa, ue-ue au, ai, aa, ah
Russian уа-уа (ua-ua) ой (oj), ай (aj), ох (okh) уи-и-и (wi-i-i) (of pig)
Serbian кме-кме (kme-kme) jao, joj, uaijh, au, auč, jao, ауу
Slovak au
Slovenian auč
Spanish buá buá au, ay
Sinhalese oha oha
Swedish uää-uää aj, oj ii
Tagalog uwá aráy, ay, arúy
Thai อุแว้ อุแว้ (uwae uwae), แง้ แง้ (ngae ngae) อ๊าก (ak), ;ว๊าก (wak), โอ๊ย (oi), อ๊าย (ai) อู๊ย (ui), โอ๊ย (oi), อ๊าย (ai)
Turkish ıngaa ah, ahh, of, öf, üf ciyak
Ukrainian ай (aj), йой (joj), ой (oj)
Urdu آہ (-ààh), ooauy
Uropi aw
Vietnamese oa oa, oe oe a, á, ối, oái
Yiddish אוי (oy)

Interrupted speech

Language Hushing Pausing or thinking Stuttering
Afrikaans sjoes, sjuut hakkel
Albanian shh, shët ëëë, ëmm gaga, gëgë
Arabic suh, hoss يعني (y'ani) tahtaha
Armenian լուռ (loor), սուս (soos) ըը, ըհը (uhh, uhu) թօթօ (to-to)
Basque ixo ba... ele-mele
Batak a-ak
Bengali থৎমৎ (thôtomôto)
Bulgarian шът (shut, sh't) ъъъ (aaa)
Catalan xxt, xst, pst, xit, xist ai, au, ui, uix
Chinese, Mandarin 噓 ()[zho 5] 嗯 (èn)
Croatian ššš, pssst
Czech [pʃ] é [e:]/[ʔ], hmmm, mmm bla bla
Danish ssh, sshy, schyy all pronounced [ʃː(ʷ)],[dan 5] tys [tˢys],[dan 6] hys [hys][dan 7] øh
Dutch ssst
English hush, shh,shush uh, um, er, erm, hmmm, mmm
Estonian kuss, tšš ee
Finnish shh, hys öö
French chut heu, euh
German pst, pscht äh, ähm Hawa, hawa, babababa
Greek σσσ (shh), σσουτ (shhut), σιωπή (sjopí, “silence”) μα (ma), ε (eh)
Hebrew שְשש (shh) אהמ (ehm) גִּמְגּוּם (gimgum)
Hungarian pissz, psszt hm, hmm, őő
Icelandic uss, suss
Indonesian ssst hmmm a ak
Italian shh mmm, ehm
Japanese シー (shh) アーノ (āno), エート (ēto)
Korean 쉿 (swit) 어 (eo), 음 (eum), 그 (keu)
Latvian kuš, ššš mmm, hmm
Lithuanian ša, ššš
Malay shhht aaa, amm ha ha
Marathi शूऽऽ (ssshhhoo), चुप (chup) हम्ऽ (hmm) तत पप (tata papa)
Norwegian hysj ø, øh
Persian hīs hmm tete-pete
Polish ćśśś hmmm, yyy y-yh
Portuguese chi, chit, si, xiu, psiu[por 1] ããã, âââ, hmm[por 1]
Romanian sst, șșt, șșș ăăă bâl-bâl
Russian тс-с (ts-s), ш-ш (sh-sh), цыц (tsyts) хм (hm), эм (em) ик (ik)
Serbian пссст (pssst), шшш (shhh)
Sinhalese බැක් බැක් (bäk bäk)
Slovak čššš, pssst hmmm bla bla bla
Spanish chitón, cht mmm
Swedish schh öh
Tagalog tsut sasasasa
Tamil oosshhh
Thai จุ๊จุ๊ (chu chu), ชู่ (chuu) ตะ ตะ ตะ (ta ta ta)
Turkish şişt, şişş ııı, ee, hmm kekelemek
Ukrainian гик (hyk)
Uropi cit, ccc
Vietnamese suỵt, xuýt hmm, hừmm lắp bắp

Expressions of positive emotions

Language Laughter Kiss
Afrikaans ha ha mwa
Albanian ha ha, hu hu, he he puç, mpuç
Arabic hà hà[ara 1] mwa
Armenian քա քա (ka ka), չա չա (cha cha)
Asturian ḥa ḥa, ḥe ḥe
Basque kar kar pa
Batak kakak ummah
Bengali ha ha, hee hee, ho ho cummo, umma
Bosnian cmok, pusa
Bulgarian хаха (haha), хехехе (hehe), хихи (hihi) цун (tsun), мляс (mlyas)
Catalan haha, hehe, clac clac, clec clec muà, muac, txuic, xuic
Chinese, Mandarin 哈哈 (hā hā),[zho 6] 呵呵 (hē hē),[zho 7] 嘻嘻 (xī xī),[zho 8] 嘿嘿 (hēi hēi) boh 啵 (This word is a modern creation)
Croatian ha ha, he he, hi hi cmok
Czech ha ha, cha cha [xa xa], chi chi [xi xi]
Danish ha ha, hi hi, hæ hæ, ho ho, ti hi møs
Dutch haha, hihi smak
English haha, heh-heh, hoho, (tee)heehee mwah, smooch, smack
Estonian haha, hahhah, hehe, hehheh, hihi mopsti
Finnish haha, hahhah, hehe, hehheh, hihi (girly), höhö (unintelligent) muisk
French haha, héhé, hihi, hoho mouah, smack
German haha, hihi muah, schmatz
Greek χαχα (haha), χεχε (hehe) μα (ma), ματς (mats), μουτς (mouts)
Hebrew חָה־חָה (xà xà)[heb 3] מוּאָה (mwa)
Hindi mmuah
Hungarian haha, hehe, hihi, höhö cupp
Icelandic haha, hehe, (tittering or laughter) híhí
Indonesian haha, hehe, wakaka, 'wkwkwk' muahhh, cupp
Italian ah ah, eh eh, ih ih, uh uh muah
Japanese あはは (ahaha), フフ (fu fu) チュー (chū)
Kazakh қарқ-қарқ (qarq-qarq) шөп (sho'p)
Korean 하하 (haha), 케케 (keke) 쪽 (jjok)
Latvian ha ha buč
Lithuanian cha cha pakšt
Macedonian цмок (tsmoc)
Malay kahkah, haha, kiki, bahahah muah
Malayalam umma
Marathi हा हा (ha ha), खो खो (kho kho) (loud laughter) उम्ऽमा (umma)
Navajo ts'oos, k'oos
Nepali हाहा (haha), ahaha
Norwegian ha-ha, he-he, hi-hi, ho-ho smask
Persian hā-hā, he-he, qāh-qāh m, mp, māč-o-mūč
Polish haha, hihi, hehe, hoho cmok
Portuguese haha, kaka, huehua[por 1] splish splash, smac, chuac
Romanian ha-ha, hi-hi smac, ţoc, mua
Russian хаха (haha), хихи (hihi), хехе (hèhè) чмок (chmoc)
Serbian хаха (haha), хихи (hihi), хехе (hehe) цмок (cmok)
Sinhalese උම්ම (umma)
Slovak ha ha, cha cha, hi hi cmuk
Slovene cmok
Somali k(h)a k(h)a
Spanish jaja, jeje, jiji, jojo, juju mua, muac, chuik (South America)
Swedish haha,hehe,hoho,hihi,höhö,håhå smack
Tagalog haha, hehe, hihi tsup, mwah
Tamil umma
Telugu haha umma
Thai ฮ่า ๆ ๆ (hahaha) จุ๊บ (chup), จ๊วบ (chuap)
Turkish haha, hehe, hihi (girly), kikir (girly, sarcastic), hoho (sarcastic) muck /mudʒ(u)k/
Ukrainian ги ги [hihi],ги-ги-ги,га-га [haha],ге-ге [hehe],гі-гі [hihi],кха [kkha],і-хи-хи-х [i khi khi kh],haha,іх [ikh],[khe khe],[khi:],[kha:] цьом (tsiom)
Vietnamese ha ha, hi hi, hô hô, keke, ka ka, hehe, hi hô, hêlo duke huê chụt

Animal sounds

Bird sounds

Domestic birds

Language Chicken clucking Rooster crowing Turkey calling Goose calling Duck calling
Afrikaans kloek kloek koekeloekoe kwaak
Albanian kikiriki glluglluk gak-gak mak-mak
Arabic قرقر (qur qur), بق بق بيق (baq baq baiq)[ara 3] kuku-kookoo, kuku-reekoo, esku kookoo, صقاع (siqā`)[ara 3] كواك كواك (kwāk kwāk)[ara 4] وق وق (waq-waq), بطبطة (batbata)[ara 5][ara 6]
Armenian ճիտ ճիտ ճիտ (jeed jeed jeed) tsoo-ghoo-roo-ghoo, coo-coo-ree-coo
Basque kakara-kakara kukurruku karra-karra par-par
Batak kotek-kotek kuak-kuak
Bengali kuk-ku-ruk-kooo pnak pnak
Bulgarian ко-ко-ко (ko-ko-ko) кукуригу (cucurigu) квак-квак (kvak kvak) па-па (paa paa)
Catalan cloc, cloc-cloc quiquiriquic, cocorococ glo-glo-gloc, glu-glu coac-coac, guac-guac, qüec-qüec coac-coac, mec-mec, qüec-qüec
Chinese, Mandarin 咯咯 (gē gē) 咕咕咕 (gū gū gū)[zho 9] 嘎嘎 (gā gā),[zho 10] 呱呱 (guā guā)[zho 11]
Croatian kokoda, kokodak kukuriku "glu-glu-glu" ga ga kva kva
Czech kokodák kykirikí hudry hudry ga ga káč káč
Danish kuk kuk, gok gok kykkeliky rap rap
Dutch tok tok tok kukeleku gak gak kwak kwak, kwaak kwaak
English cluck cluck, bok bok bok, bok bok b'gawk cock a doodle doo gobble gobble honk honk quack
Estonian kaa-kaa, kaak-kaak kikerikii, kukeleegu kaak kaak prääk prääk, prääks prääks
Finnish kot kot kukkokiekuu, kukko (cock), kiekuu (crowing) klu klu klu kvaak kvaak
French cot cot cot, cot cot codet cocorico[fra 1] ca car coin coin[fra 1]
Georgian ყიყლიყო (qiqliqo)
German gack gack gack, guaguagua kikeriki[ger 1] gack gack[ger 1] quak quak[ger 1]
Greek κο κο (ko ko), κλο κλο (klo klo) (sitting) κικιρίκου (kikiriku) κουάκ κουάκ (kuak kuak)
Hebrew קוּר־קוּר־קוּר (qur qur qur),[heb 4] בָּק־בָּק־בָּק (bàq bàq bàq) קוּקוּרִיקוּ (quuquuriqu)[heb 4] גַּע־גַּע (gaqh gaqh)[heb 4] גַּע־גַּע (gaʕ gaʕ)[heb 4]
Hindi ku-kudu-koo
Hungarian kot-kot-kot-kodács kukurikú gá gá háp háp
Icelandic gaggalagó bra bra
Indonesian petok-petok kukuruyuk kwak kwak kwek kwek
Irish cuc-adiú-dil-ú
Italian coccodè chicchirichi[ita 1] glu glu qua qua[ita 1] qua qua[ita 1]
Japanese コッコッ (kokko) コケコッコー (kokekokkō)[jpn 10] ガーガー (gā gā)[jpn 10] ガーガー (gā gā)[jpn 10]
Kazakh қыт-қыт (qyt-qyt) қақ-қақ (qaq-qaq)
Korean 꼬꼬댁 (kko kko daek) 꼬꼬댁 꼬꼬 (kkokkodek kko), 꼬끼오 (kko-kki-o) 꽤액-꽤액 (kkwae-aek-kkwae-aek) 꽥꽥 (kkwaek kkwaek)
Latgalian kā kā kikerigū, kikerigī, ko ko ko kō gā gā
Latin cocococo
Latvian kluk kluk kikerigū gā gā pēk pēk
Lithuanian kud kudak, ko ko ko kakarykū, kakariekū kva kva
Macedonian кукурику (kukuriku) ква ква (kva kva)
Malayalam kokarakkoo
Marathi कुकूच-कू (kukooch-koo!) पक पक (pak pak)[mar 1]
Nepali kukhuri kaa braaaq caaq
Norwegian klukk klukk kykkeliky kvakk kvakk
Persian qod-qod, qod-qod-qodā(s) qūqūli qū-qū (Northern) mak-mak
Polish ko ko ko, kod-kodaak kukuryku gul gul gę gę kwa kwa kwa
Portuguese có có có cocorocó, cocoricó[por 1] quem quem /qüém qüém/, qua qua quá quá, quak quak
Romanian cotcodac cucurigu ga ga mac mac
Russian ко-ко-ко (ko-ko-ko), куд-куда (kud-kuda) кукареку (ku-ka-re-ku) га-га-га (ga-ga-ga) кря-кря (krja krja)
Serbian кокода (kokoda) кукурику (kukuriku) га (ga) квак (kvak)
Sinhalese කුක්කු කූක් කූ (kuku kūk kuu)
Slovene kikiriki ga ga
Spanish coc co co coc quiquiriquí, quiquiriquiquí, cocorocó[Spa 1] glu, glu, glu cua cua[Spa 1] cua cua[Spa 1]
Sundanese kongkorongok
Swedish kluck kluck, kackel kuckeliku kvack kvack
Tagalog po-kok tik-tilá-ok, ko-ko-ro-kok ong ong kwak kwak
Tamil kokkara-ko-ko baack baack kua kua
Telugu kokkaro-ko
Thai กุ๊ก ๆ (kuk kuk) เอ้กอี๊เอ้กเอ้ก (ek-i-ek-ek) ก้าบ ๆ (kap kap)
Turkish gıt-gıt gıdaak ü-ürü-üüü /yʔyryʔyː/ gulu gulu vak vak vak vak
Ukrainian koo-ku-ri-koo кукуріку ках ках (kakh kakh)
Uropi kwa kwa
Vietnamese (cục ta) cục tác ò ó o (oooooo) quạc quạc, cà kếu cạp cạp

Wild birds

Language Bird singing Crow calling Owl hooting
Afrikaans twiet twiet hoe-hoe
Albanian ciu-ciu krra-krra ku-ku
Arabic سِقسِق (siqsiq),[ara 7] غِرد (gharid) (to chirp),[ara 8] زِيو زِيو (ziw ziw)[ara 3] قاقا qà qà, نعيق (na'eeq),[ara 9] / نعيب (na'eeb)[ara 10]
Armenian ճիւ ճիւ (jiv jiv) կաաք, կաաք (gaak, gaak) պու պու (boo boo)
Basque txio-txio karra-karra
Batak
Bengali kichir michir কা কা (ka ka) huup huup
Bosnian čip čip
Bulgarian чик-чирик (chik-chirik) га га (ga ga) бууу (buuu)
Catalan piu-piu, xiu-xiu òc-òc xut
Chinese, Cantonese 呱呱 (gua, gua)
Chinese, Mandarin 叽叽喳喳 (jī jī zhā zhā)[zho 12] 哑哑 (yā yā)[zho 13]
Croatian čip čip kra kra hu hu
Czech píp píp, cvrliki krá krá hůůů
Danish pip pip, kvit kvit, kvittevit kra kra
Dutch twiet twiet, tjierp, tjielp, tsjilp kra kra oehoe
English chirp chirp, tweet tweet, cheep cheep, peep peep caw caw hoo hoo, twit twoo (AUS), toowit toowoo
Estonian siuts siuts, siit siit, tsirr tsirr, sirts sirts, siu siu kraaks kraaks uhuu
Finnish tsirp tsirp, tviit, piip piip, ti-ti-tyy (great tit) kraa kraa huhuu
French cui cui, piou piou[fra 1] crôa crôa ouh ouh
German piep piep, tschiep[ger 1] krah krah hu hu
Greek τσίου τσίου (tsiu tsiu) κρα κρα (kra kra)
Hebrew צִיף־צִיף (tsif tsif),[heb 4] צְוִיץ־צְוִיץ (tswits tswits)[heb 4] קְרָע־קְרָע (qràqh qràqh)[heb 4] הוּ־הוווּ (hu-huuu)
Hindi cheh cheh kaa kaa
Hungarian csip-csirip kár kár hú hú
Icelandic bíbí krúnk krúnk
Indonesian cit-cit, cicitcuit kaa kaa, kak kak kuk-kuk
Italian cip cip, pio pio (chick)[ita 1] cra cra huu huu
Japanese (chick) ピヨ ピヨ (piyo piyo), ひいひい (hī, hī), チュンチュン (chun chun)[jpn 10] カアカア (kaa kaa), ガアガア (gaa gaa) ホウホウ (hō hō)
Kannada kha-kha
Kazakh шыр-шыр (shyr-shyr), шық-шық (shyq-shyq) қарқ-қарқ (qarq-qarq)
Korean 짹짹 (jjaek jjaek) 까악까악 (kkaak kkaak)
Latgalian krā
Latvian čiu čiu, čiv čiv krā u-hū
Lithuanian čik čirik, čyru vyru kar kar
Macedonian чурулик чурулик (churulik churulik) гра гра (gra gra)
Malay cip cip
Malayalam coo coo kra kra
Marathi किलबिल (kil-bil), छिव-छिव (chiw-chiw), कुहू-कुहू (coohoo-coohoo), किल-किल (kil-kil), काव-काव (kaw-kaw) काव-काव (kav-kav)
Norwegian kra kra
Persian چه‌چه (čah-čah), چهچهه (čah-čahe) قارقار (qār-qār)
Polish ćwir ćwir, fiu-fiu kra kra hu-huuu
Portuguese piu piu cra cra u-huu
Romanian cip cirip, piu piu cra cra hu-huuu
Russian чирик-чирик (chirik-chirik), чик-чирик (chik-chirik), чив-чив (chiv-chiv) кар-кар (kar kar) угу (ugu), уху (ukhu)
Serbian ћију-ћију (ćiju-ćiju) кра-кра (kra-kra)
Sinhalese කුමු-කුමු (kumu kumu) කාක්-කාක් (kāk kāk)
Slovak píp píp, čvirik, čvirik
Slovene čiv čiv kra kra
Spanish pío pío[Spa 1] cuaa cuaaa, uacc uac uh, uh
Swedish kvitter kvitter kra kra, krax krax ho-hoo
Tagalog twit twit wák wák
Tamil koo koo kaa kaa
Telugu kaau kaau
Thai จิ๊บ ๆ (chip chip) กา กา (ka ka; ka also means a crow)
Turkish cik cik /dʒik dʒik/, cibili cibili, şak şak gaak gaak gu guk guuk
Ukrainian тьох-тьох (t'okh-t'okh), фіть-фіть (fit'-fit' )
Vietnamese chíp chíp quạ quạ (quạ also means a crow)

Mammal sounds

Cats and dogs

Language Cat meowing Dog barking Dog or wolf howling
Afrikaans woef
Albanian mjau-mjau ham ham, hum-hum, gam-gam, uof-uof huu, auu
Arabic مُواَء (muwà-)[ara 3] نباح (nibaah), haw haw, hab hab[ara 3] عواء (awoooo)[ara 3]
Armenian միաւ (mee-av) հաւ հաւ (hav hav)
Basque mau au-au, txau-txau (small dogs), zaunk-zaunk (big dogs) ulu-ulu
Batak ngeong kung-kung auuung
Bengali মিউ মিউ (miu miu) ঘেউ ঘেউ (gheu gheu), ভেউ ভেউ (bheu bheu), ভউ ভউ (bhou bhou) huukka huuya
Bulgarian мяу (mjau) бау бау (bau bau), джаф джаф (djaff djaff) аууу (auuu)
Catalan marramèu, mèu [(mərə)ˈmɛw] bup-bup, bub-bub auu, ahú
Chinese, Cantonese 喵喵 (mēu-mēu) 㕵㕵 (wōu-wōu)
Chinese, Mandarin 喵 (miāo)[zho 14] 汪汪 (wāng wāng)[zho 15]
Croatian mjau vau vau
Czech mňau [mɲau] haf haf
Danish mjau, mjav, miau, miav vuf vuf, vov vov, bjæf bjæf
Dutch miauw, mauw waf waf, woef woef
Egyptian mjw (miu)
English miaow (UK), meow (US) woof, arf, bow wow, ruff,yap yap(small dog) awooo
Estonian mäu, mjäu, näu, njau, kurnjau auh auh
Finnish miau, mau, nau, kurnau hau hau, vuh vuh auuu, vouuu
French miaou [mja.u][fra 1] ouah ouah, ouaf ouaf, wouf wouf[fra 1] aoouu
Galician jau jau
German miau[ger 1][ger 1] wau wau, waff waff, wuff wuff
Greek νιάου (niau) γαβ γαβ (ghav ghav) αουυυ (auuu)
Hebrew מְיָאוּ (miàw)[heb 4] הַב־הַב (hav hav),[heb 4] הַאוּ־הַאוּ (haw haw)[heb 4] אַאוווּ (awooo)
Hindi myaau, myaaoo भो भो (bho bho)
Hungarian miaú, nyau vau vau
Icelandic mjá voff voff
Indonesian meong guk guk auuu
Italian miao, miau, mao[ita 1] bau bau[ita 1] auuu
Japanese ニャー (nyā)[jpn 10] ワンワン (wan wan)[jpn 10] ワオーン (waōn)
Kannada bow bow
Kazakh мияу-мияу (mijau-mijau) арп-арп (arp-arp), шәу-шәу (shau-shau) ұұұ (üüü)
Korean 야옹 (yaong) 멍멍 (meong meong)
Latgalian ņau ņau vau vau
Latvian mjau, ņau vau
Lithuanian miau au au aūūū
Macedonian мјау (mjau) ав ав (av av), џав џав (dzhav dzhav)
Malayalam myaoo myaoo bau bau
Marathi म्यांव (meow/myao) भो-भो (bho bho) कुई (kuii)
Nepali म्याउँ म्याउँ (myaoo myaoo)
Norwegian mjau voff voff, vov vov
Persian میومیو (mioo mioo) واق واق (vāq vāq), هاف هاف (hāf-hāf)
Polish miau hau hau a-uuu
Portuguese miau[por 1] au au, ão ão, béu béu[por 1] auuu
Romanian miau ham ham auuu
Russian мяу (mjau) гав-гав (gav gav, big dogs), тяф-тяф (tyaf tyaf, small dogs) у-у-у (wu-u-u)
Serbian мњау (mnjau) ав ав (av av)
Sinhalese ඤාවු (ñāvu) බුඃ බුඃ (buh buh)
Slovak mňau hav-hav, hau-hau, haf-haf
Slovene mijav hov hov
Spanish miau [ˈmjaw][Spa 1] guau guau[Spa 1] auuu
Swedish mjau, mjao, jam vov vov, voff voff
Tagalog meyaw, miyaw, ngiyaw aw aw
Tamil மியா (miaow(m)) லொள் லொள் (loll-loll), vovw-vovw, vazh vazh
Telugu miao(m) bau bau
Thai เมี้ยว (miao), แง้ว (ngaew) โฮ่ง ๆ (hong hong), บ๊อก ๆ (bok bok) โบร๋ว์ (brow)
Turkish miyav hav hav auuu
Ukrainian няв (niav) гав (gav)
Urdu meow[urd 1]
Uropi miaw waw waw
Vietnamese meo gâu gâu, sủa sủa
Volapük miov

Equine sounds

Language Horse whinnying Horse trotting Horse galloping Donkey braying
Afrikaans runnik hie hô
Albanian iihihihi trro-trro, trrok-trrok ia-ia, ioo-ioo
Arabic صهيل (saheel)[ara 3] deregin-deregin نهيق (naheeq)[ara 3]
Basque iiiiii traka-traka aja-ja
Bengali chi hni tag bag
Bulgarian тъгъдък тъгъдък (tagadak tagadak) и-аа и-аа (i-aa i-aa)
Catalan hiii, iii toc-toc toc-toc [tɔk tɔk] to-co-toc to-co-toc [tɔkɔ:tɔk] i-aaa, ihà
Croatian njihaa klop klop i-a
Czech íí-hahá íí-áá
Danish vrinsk gadagung gadagung
Dutch niii, hiii kataklop kataklop ie-aa
English neigh clip clop hee-haw
Estonian ii-ha-haa koppadi kopp
Finnish ii-ha-haa klip-klop kopoti kopoti, koppoti koppoti ihaa
French hiii hiii pa-ta-clop cataclop cataclop, dougoudoum dougoudoum hi han
German wiehiehie i-ah
Hebrew הִי־הִי (hii hii)[heb 4] אִי־אָה (-i-à)[heb 4]
Hindi हिं-हिं (hin-hina) ढैंचू ढैंचू (Dhai.nchu Dhai.nchu)
Hungarian nyihaha klop-klop-klop i-á
Indonesian yihaa
Italian hiii hiii clop-clop-clop, cloppete clappete ih oh
Japanese ヒーン (hīn)
Kazakh мияу-мияу (mijau-mijau) арп-арп (arp-arp), шәу-шәу (shau-shau) ұұұ (üüü)
Korean 히잉 (hi-ing)
Latin hinni
Latvian ī-ā klap klap dipada-dapada
Lithuanian yhaha, ygaga
Marathi tagdak-tagdak तग्डक-तग्डक
Norwegian vrinsk
Persian šīhe (شیهه) pūtikā pūtikā عرعر (ar-ar)
Polish iii-haaa kla-klo kla-klo (actually /ˈǃˈǃʷ ˈǃˈǃʷ/, but with the mouth alternately opening and almost closing) patataj patataj (stressed on the last syllable) iii-haa
Portuguese hi hi pocotó pocotó ii-á, ii-ó
Romanian ni-ha-ha trop trop i-ha
Russian и-го-го (i-go-go) цок-цок (tsok-tsok) (colloquial), тыгыдык-тыгыдык (tygydyk-tygydyk), тыгдым-тыгдым (tygdym-tygdym) ии-а (ii-a)
Spanish ji ji tucutun tucutun i-o
Swedish gnägg
Tagalog hihihi haha
Thai ฮี้ ๆ (hii hii) กุบกับ กุบกับ (kupkap kupkap)
Turkish ih-hi-i-i dıgı-dıg dıgı-dıg aa-ii
Vietnamese hí hí hí nhong nhong

Animals with cloven hoofs

Language Cow mooing Sheep bleating Goat bleating Pig grunting Pig squealing
Afrikaans moe
Albanian muu behehe, bee behehe, bee
Arabic moo, ngoah امباع (mbaa), مأة (maa' )[ara 3] ثغاء[ara 11] قباع (qibaa)[ara 3]
Armenian մայ (may)
Basque mu mee bee kurrin-kurrin
Bengali hamba myaa myaa byaa byaa ghnot ghnot
Bulgarian муу (muu) беее (beee) меее (meee) грух грух (gruh gruh) квич-квич (kvich-kvich)
Catalan mmm, muu bèè, mèè bèè, mèè oinc-oinc, gronyc
Chinese, Mandarin 哞 (mōu)[zho 16] 咩 (miē)[zho 17]
Croatian muu bee
Czech bůů béé meee chro chro kvík kvík
Danish muh mæh øf øf,[dan 8] grynt[dan 9]
Dutch boe bèh, mèh knor knor
English moo baa maa, naa oink oink
Estonian ammuu, muu, möö mää mää röh röh röh
Finnish ammuu, muu, möö mää, bää mä-ä-ä-ää. bä-ä-ä-ää röh röh, nöf nöf skviik
French meuh, mou bêêh groin groin, grouik grouik[fra 1]
Georgian ვეეე (veee) ღრუტუ ღრუტუ (ghrutu ghrutu)
German muh mäh grunz grunz, oink oink[ger 1]
Greek (ancient) βῆ () ko-i ko-i[gre 2]
Greek (modern) μoυ (mu) μεε (mee)
Hebrew מוווּ (muuu)[heb 4] מֶה (meh)[heb 4] אוֹינְק־אוֹינְק (-oinq -oinq),[heb 4] חְרר־חְרר (xrr xrr)[heb 4]
Hindi moo
Hungarian , bee mek mek röf röf, uí uí
Icelandic mee
Indonesian mooh mbee, mbek mbek grok grok
Italian mu bee oink oink[ita 1]
Japanese モーモー (mō mō) メーメー (mē mē) プヒプヒ (puhi puhi), ブーブー (bū bū)[jpn 10]
Kazakh мөө (moo) қорс-қорс (qors-qors)
Korean 음매 (eum-mae) 음매 (eum-mae) 꿀꿀 (kkul kkul)
Kyrgyz маа (maa)
Latgalian ruk ruk, kvī kvī
Latin bee
Latvian , ruk ruk, kvī kvī
Lithuanian be kvy kvy, kvykt kvykt, kriu kriu
Marathi हम्मा (hamma) बँ-बँ (baanh-baanh)
Norwegian nøff nøff
Persian māγ bā-bā
Polish muuu beee beee chrum chrum kwi kwi
Portuguese mu mu meh béee ronc ronc, oinc oinc
Romanian mu meee, beee groh groh
Russian му (mu) бее-е (beh) мее-е (meh) хрю-хрю (hrju hrju)
Serbian му (mu) бее-е (beh) мее-е (meh) грок грок (grok grok)
Slovak múú béé méé kroch-kroch kvík-kvík
Slovene mu
Spanish mu beee beee oinc oinc[Spa 1]
Swedish mu nöff nöff, grymt grymt
Tagalog ungaa ngok ngok
Telugu అంబా (amba) mae
Thai มอ (mo) แบะ แบะ (bae bae) อู๊ด ๆ (uut uut), ครอก ๆ (khrok khrok)
Turkish mee
Uropi mu, muh bee, beh grun grun
Vietnamese ụm bò be be be be ụt ụt, ụt ịt, ỉn ỉn, ủn ỉn eng éc
Welsh soch soch

Other mammals

Language Elephant trumpeting Lion/tiger roaring Monkey chatting
Albanian tyy, trryy arr, grr i-u-a-a, u-u-a-a
Arabic نهيم (naheem)[ara 12] زئير (za'ir)[ara 3] ضحك (duhik)[ara 3]
Catalan hiii, iiiii arrr, brahh, graa hiii-hii, iiii-iii
Czech u-u e-e
Dutch toet grrr oe-oe a-a
English baraag, nrrr, toot roar, grrr, rawr, roar oo-ooh a-aah, ook ook, eek eek
Finnish tööt, trööt mur juk juk, tsik tsik
French braah roarrr, grrr ouah ah ah hein
German töröö
Hebrew אוּ־אוּ אַ־אָה (-u-u a-àh)
Hungarian tü-tü mak-mak
Indonesian ngoah aum kak kak kak
Italian baaa roar u-u-ah-ah-ah
Japanese パオーン (paōn) ガオー (gaō) ウキウキ (u-ki-u-ki)
Kazakh арс (ars)
Korean 어흥 (eo-heung) 우끼끼끼 (u-kki-kki-kki)
Polish wrrr, grrr u-u
Portuguese urawr u-u-u, u-u-ááá
Romanian grrrrr
Russian р-р-р (rrr) чи-чи-чи (chi-chi-chi)
Spanish biaaah grrr iih, iih
Swedish tuut
Tagalog awoo hoo-hoo-aah
Thai แป๊น (paen), แปร๊น (praen) โฮก (hoak) เจี๊ยก ๆ (chiak chiak)
Turkish ravr
Ukrainian fru-fru-fru, che-che
Vietnamese , rống goám, gầm, rống khẹc khẹc

Other animals

Language Bee buzzing Frog croaking Snake hissing
Afrikaans zoem kwaak sis
Albanian bëzz, zhh, vzvzvz krra-krra pss
Arabic طنين (taneen), دوي (dwii)[ara 3] نقيق (naqiq)[ara 3] فحيح (fahih)[ara 13]
Armenian, բզզ (bezuzz), բզզէ (bezuzze)
Basque brun-brun kro-kro zi-zi
Batak ngung-ngung
Bengali gun gun মক মক (môk môk), কট কট (kôṭ kôṭ), ghangor ghang phnosh
Bulgarian, бззз (bzzz) ква ква (kva kva) ссс (sss)
Catalan bzzz, zum-zum, nyee ruac ruac, roac roac, rac rac sss, hss
Chinese, Mandarin 嗡嗡 (wēng wēng)[zho 18] 呱呱 (guā guā)[zho 11] 嘶嘶 (sī sī)
Croatian zum zum, bzzz kre kre hsss
Czech bzzz kvá kvá sss
Danish sum kvæk kvæk,[dan 10] græbæk
Dutch kwaak kwaak
English buzz, bzzz, (in rural English (as mentioned in Joel Chandler Harris's "Uncle Remus" stories), zoon) (USA) ribbit, gribbit; (Britain) croak hiss, sss
Estonian summ-summ-summ krooks krooks
Finnish surr, surrur kurr kurr, kroak
French bzzz croa croa siff
Galician cro cro
German summ gribbit, quaak zisch
Greek brekekekex koax koax (ancient, likely Rana ridibunda), κουάξ κουάξ (kuaks kuaks)
Hebrew בְּזזז (bzzz), זוּם־זוּם (zum zum) קְוָה־קְוָה (qwà qwà)[heb 4] סְסס (sss)
Hindi tarr tarr
Hungarian zümm brekeke, brekk, kutykurutty, kvákk sssz
Indonesian nguing krok krok
Italian bzzz, zumm cra cra, cri cri pisss
Japanese ブーン (būn) ケロケロ (kero kero) シャー (shā)
Kazakh бақ-бақ (baq-baq)
Korean 개굴개굴 (gaegul gaegul)
Latgalian kvak kvak, kvā kvā, kvarr kvarr
Latvian bzz, zumm kvā kvā
Lithuanian kva kva
Macedonian кре кре (crè crè)
Marathi zzz डरांव-डरांव (darav-darav) फुस्स (phusss)
Norwegian sum sum kvekk kvekk, kvakk kvakk
Nepali bhun bhun, bhununu
Persian vez-vez qūr-qūr fūke, fūff
Polish bzzz, zzz kum kum, rech rech sss
Portuguese zum zum, bzzz croac croac sss
Romanian bâzzz oac oac sss
Russian жжж (zhhh) ква ква (kva kva) шшш (shhh)
Serbian zum zum, bzz кре кре (kre kre)
Sinhalese බක බක baka baka
Slovene kvak kvak, rega kvak
Spanish zum croac croac sss
Swedish surr surr kvack kvack, ko ack ack ack, kväk väs
Tagalog zzz kokak kokak sss
Telugu beka beka buss
Thai หึ่ง ๆ (hueng hueng) อ๊บ ๆ (op op) ฟ่อ (fo)
Turkish vızz vrak vrak tısss
Ukrainian ква-ква (kva kva),[uk 1] кум-кум (kum kum),[uk 2] квок-квок (kvok kvok)[uk 2]
Vietnamese ồm ộp, ộp ộp

Collisions, bursts, and strikes

Balloon or bubble bursting

Cannon firing; gunshot; machine gun fire

  • In Afrikaans, kaboem; boem; ra-tat-tat
  • In Albanian, pum-pum; bau-bau, ta-ta-ta-ta, du-du-du-du
  • In Arabic, bom; bov, tokh طخ[ara 1]
  • In Basque, bunba; danba; ta-ta-ta-ta-ta
  • In Bengali, goom goom
  • In Bulgarian, bum бум, kh кх, tatatata тататата
  • In Catalan, buuum, pumba; pam, pum; ratatatatà
  • In Chinese, Mandarin, pēng 砰; ping, pa 乒, 啪; da da da... 嗒嗒嗒
  • In Croatian, bum, pam, puf
  • In Czech, bum, prásk, ratatata
  • In Danish, bang, bum
  • In Dutch, boem; pang, pauw; ratatata
  • In English, bam, boom, blam, kaboom; bang, pow; rat-at-at-at-at-at, gat-gat-gat-gat, skkrrt skkrrt, dakka-dakka
  • In Estonian, põmm, kõmm; pauh, karpauh
  • In Finnish, pum; pam; ra-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta, rä-tä-tä-tä-tä-tä
  • In French, boum; pan
  • In German, bumm, rumms, kawumm; peng, puff, päng; rat-tat-tat-tat
  • In Greek, cabum, bum μπουμ, bam μπαμ; bam, pan, piu-piu (mainly by children); trrrrrr
  • In Hebrew, bum בּוּם
  • In Hindi, thaa
  • In Hungarian bumm, dörr; ratata, trrrrr
  • In Icelandic, búmm; bamm
  • In Indonesian, dor,
  • In Italian, bum; bang; pum
  • In Japanese, バーンバーン (bān bān), dōn ドーン, bakyūn バキューン
  • In Kannada, dum, dhaam
  • In Kazakh, bydyrsch быдырщ
  • In Korean, ppang
  • In Latvian, bum
  • In Lithuanian, bumpt, bum, pokšt
  • In Persian, bang
  • In Macedonian, bum бум; pau пау; ra ta ta ta ра та та та
  • In Marathi, Dhishkyaon ढिश्क्यँव, dhishum धिशुम
  • In Polish, bum-bum; bang-bang, pif-paf and others; tra ta ta ta ta
  • In Portuguese, bam, boom, cabum; ,pum; ratátátá
  • In Romanian, bum; poc
  • In Russian, ba-bakh ба-бах; pif-paf пиф-паф; tra-ta-ta тра-та-та
  • In Sinhalese, ḍisum ඩිසුම්; ḍung ඩුං; ḍaka-ḍaka-ḍaka ඩක-ඩක-ඩක
  • In Spanish, pum; bang; praca
  • In Swedish, bom; pang, bang
  • In Tagalog, boom; boogsh
  • In Tamil, dishum
  • In Telugu, dishyoom
  • In Thai, ตูม (tuum, cannon firing); ปัง (pang, gunshot)
  • In Turkish, bom, bam, güm, dıkşınyaa (by kids)
  • In Uropi, bam (cannon), pang (gun)
  • In Vietnamese, đoàng (louder); pằng (quieter); bùm (usually for cannons)

Crash

  • In Albanian, pum, bau, përrtaf,
  • In Afrikaans, doef, kadoef
  • In Arabic, bom, tàkh, tràkh[ara 1]
  • In Basque: danba, pun, plaust
  • In Bengali: ṭhash ঠাস, ṭhush ঠুস, dhum ধুম, dham ধাম, daram, dhapash
  • In Bulgarian, bum бум, dum дум, trjas тряс, pras прас
  • In Catalan, bumba, catacrac, patam, paf
  • In Chinese, Mandarin, hong
  • In Croatian, bum, tres
  • In Czech, řach, bum, prásk
  • In Danish, bum, bump, bang, krasj
  • In Dutch, boem, knal, plof, bam
  • In English, boom, bam, wham, slam, bang, crash, clash, pow, thonk, thunk, thud, clang
  • In Estonian, prõmm, pauh, piraki, karpauh
  • In Tagalog, ka-boom
  • In Finnish, pam, pum, ryskis, kolin, räiskis
  • In French, bing, bang, boum, bam, vlan
  • In German, rumms, bumms, bauz, krach, knall
  • In Gilbertese, beeku
  • In Greek, bam μπαμ, gcup
  • In Haitian Creole, bip
  • In Hebrew, bum בּוּם, trax טְרַאח[heb 5]
  • In Hindi, dhishumm धिशुम्म, dhishum धिशुम
  • In Hungarian, dzzs, bumm, bamm, puff, paff, csatt, nyekk
  • In Indonesian, buk, brekk, j'derr
  • In Italian, bum, badabeu, patatraf
  • In Japanese, ガーン (gān)
  • In Korean, kung
  • In Kyrgyz, тарс'
  • In Latin, tuxtax
  • In Latvian, bum
  • In Lithuanian, bumpt, bum
  • In Macedonian, bum бум, pam пам, pum пум, dum дум, très трес
  • In Malay, gedebak-gedebuk, beng
  • In Marathi, dhadaam धडाम्
  • In Polish, bum, trach
  • In Portuguese, crash, boom
  • In Romanian, bum, buf, pac, poc, trosc, zbang
  • In Russian, bum бум
  • In Sinhalese, daḍas දඩස්
  • In Spanish, bum, catapum, crash
  • In Swedish, krasch
  • In Tamil, dhishumm, dhishum
  • In Thai, โครม (khrom)
  • In Turkish, güm, bam, dıkş, çat, pat, zbam
  • In Vietnamese, ầm, rầm

Door or floor creaking

Engine back-firing while freewheeling

  • In Albanian, përr-përr-përr, dum-dum-dum
  • In Batak, put-put-put, doput-doput
  • In Italian, rrra-tatatatata...
  • In Malay, prreng prreng
  • In Polish, pyr pyr pyr
  • In Romanian, pâr pâr
  • In Russian, dìr-dìr-dìr дыр-дыр-дыр
  • In Spanish, tac tac tac

Knocking

Strikes

Dull strike

Falling strike

Sharp strike

  • In Albanian, tink, ting
  • In Afrikaans, klingel, kletter
  • In Bulgarian, dzun дзън
  • In Catalan, cling. clang, cataclinc-cataclanc
  • In Czech, cink
  • In Croatian, zvek, zvec[hr 1]
  • In Chinese, Cantonese, bìhng-līng baang-làahng 乒鈴嘭唥
  • In Chinese, Mandarin, kuāng lāng 哐啷,[zho 19] guang-dang 哐当
  • In Dutch, klink, ring, klingel, rinkel, kletter, tingel
  • In English, clang, clink, clank, clunk, chink, dink, tink, plink, ding, ring, ping, ting, jingle, jangle, tinkle, pow, conk
  • In Finnish, kilin, kolin
  • In French, paf, bim, bam
  • In German, klang, kling, klirr, klimper, klingel, bimmel
  • In Hebrew, zbang זְבֶּנְג[heb 7]
  • In Indonesian, jleb
  • In Japanese, カーン (kān)
  • In Korean, jjaeng 쨍, ting
  • In Persian, jiring
  • In Portuguese, pim, plim
  • In Romanian, jap, harsht, trosc
  • In Russian, dzyn’ дзынь, zvyak звяк, klatz клац
  • In Spanish, tintin, tilín
  • In Thai, ติ๊ง (ting), ปิ๊ง (ping)
  • In Vietnamese, keng, beng

Wet strike

Crunch, сracking (of sticks, bones etc.)

Machinery

Camera shutter

Car engine revving

  • In Albanian, vum-vum-vum, përr-përr-përr
  • In Afrikaans, wroem, broem
  • In Arabic, hunn hunn هن هــن, aan aan آن آن
  • In Batak, ngong, ngooongngng
  • In Bulgarian, bram-bram бръм-бръм
  • In Catalan, rum, rumm
  • In Croatian, brum brum, vrum vrum
  • In Czech, brmmm brmmm
  • In Danish, vrum vrum, brum brum, nøn nøn
  • In Dutch, broem, vroem
  • In English, vroom vroom, broom broom
  • In Estonian, põrr põrr
  • In Finnish, vruum vruum, bruum bruum, prööm prööm (spoken)
  • In French, vroum vroum
  • In German, brumm brumm, wrumm wrumm
  • In Hebrew, aan aan אָאן אָאן
  • In Hungarian, brum brumm
  • In Indonesian, bremmm bremmm, ngeng ngeng
  • In Italian, brum brum, vrum vrum
  • In Japanese, buroro ブロロ
  • In Korean, bureung bureung 부릉부릉
  • In Malay, ngeng ngeng, brum brum, vrum vrum, preng preng, ngii ngii
  • In Polish, brummm brummmm
  • In Portuguese, vruum vruum
  • In Romanian, vrum vrum
  • In Russian, rrr ppp ru ru ру ру rum rum рум рум
  • In Spanish, 'rue fun
  • In Swedish, brum
  • In Telugu, raeyyyyyyy
  • In Thai, บรื๊น ๆ (bruen bruen)
  • In Turkish, vrum vrum (truck), vrın vrın (car)
  • In Vietnamese, bờ rừm

Car horn honking

Clock ticking

A sign in a shop window in Italy proclaims "No Tic Tac".

Doorbell ringing

Keyboard striking

  • In Albanian, tok-tok-tok, tëk-tëk-tëk
  • In Batak, tik tik
  • In Bulgarian, trak-trak трак-трак
  • In Catalan txiquiti-txiquiti, txic txic
  • In Czech, klik, ťuk ťuk
  • In Danish: klik klik
  • In Dutch: tik tik
  • In English: click click, click clack
  • In Estonian klõp klõp klõp
  • In Finnish: klik klik, klik klak, naks, naputinap
  • In French: clic clic
  • In German: klack klack klack (typewriter), tipp tipp tipp (computer)
  • In Hebrew, klik klik, קְלִיק־קְלִיק[heb 9]
  • In Italian, clic clic, tip tap
  • In Japanese, kata kata カタカタ
  • In Latvian, klikš, klab klab
  • In Malay, tek tek tek tek
  • In Polish, klik klik
  • In Russian, klatz-klatz клац-клац
  • In Spanish, tac tac tac
  • In Swedish, knapp knapp, klick klick
  • In Tagalog, chu ku chu ku chuk
  • In Thai, ก้อกแก้ก (kokkaek)
  • In Turkish, tıkı tıkı tıkı, tıkır tıkır
  • In Vietnamese, lạch cạch

Match striking

Telephone ringing

Siren wailing

  • In Albanian, iu-iu-iu, auo-auo
  • In Afrikaans, pie-pô
  • In Arabic, wee-wee[ara 2]
  • In Bengali, pay puu
  • In Bosnian, ni-na ni-na ni-na
  • In Bulgarian, tii-nu-nii-nu нии-ну-нии-ну
  • In Catalan, ninu ni, ni no ni no
  • In Croatian, ninu ninu, tinu ninu, viju viju, fiju fiju[hr 1]
  • In Danish, ba bu
  • In Dutch, Taatuutaatuu
  • In English Nee naw, wee-woo, waow-waow (police), awooga (klaxon),
  • In Estonian, Viiu, viiu,
  • In Filipino, wang wang wang
  • In Finnish, Pii paa, Viiuu viiuu viiuu
  • In French, Pin Pon
  • In German, Tatütata
  • In Greek, eeuu eeuu ηου-ηου
  • In Hungarian, nínó, nénó
  • In Italian, nino nino, ta tu-ta tu
  • In Japanese, ピーポーピーポー (pīpō pīpō)
  • In Korean, ppippo ppippo 삐뽀 삐뽀
  • In Latvian, ī-ū
  • In Macedonian, piu uiu пиу уиу
  • In Malay, nino nino, iyo iyo
  • In Minions, mi naw mi naw
  • In Norwegian, Bæ bu bæ bu
  • In Polish, ioioioio
  • In Portuguese, uooooo /uóóóóó/, uiu uiu uiu, tinóni
  • In Romanian, ni no ni no
  • In Russian, wiu-wiu виу-виу or уиу-уиу
  • In Slovene, uiuiui
  • In Spanish Wiu Wiu, nino-nino
  • In Tamil, aaaaaeeen-neeeeen
  • In Thai, ปี๊ป่อ ปี๊ป่อ (pipo pipo), วี้หว่อ วี้หว่อ (wiwo wiwo)
  • In Turkish, Daa dii
  • In Vietnamese, ò e í e

Train whistling

Physical and natural phenomena

Electric flowing (buzzing)

Electric shock

Fire

Rain

Thunder

Steam hissing

Thunder

Water dripping

  • In Albanian, pik-pik, pim-pim
  • In Afrikaans, drip
  • In Arabic, tik tik or tok tok[ara 1]
  • In Bengali: টুপ টুপ ṭup ṭup ঢিপ ঢিপ ḍhip ḍhip
  • In Bulgarian, cap-cap кап-кап
  • In Chinese, Cantonese, dihk-dihk 滴滴
  • In Chinese, Mandarin, dī dá 滴答[zho 21]
  • In Catalan, plip plip, tip-tip-tip
  • In Croatian, kap kap
  • In Czech, kap
  • In Danish, dryp dryp (dryppe is the verbal), plop plop
  • In Dutch, drup drup, drip, drop
  • In English, drip drop, plink plonk
  • In Estonian, tilks tilks
  • In Finnish, tip tip
  • In French, plic plic/ploc
  • In German, plitsch, platsch, tropf
  • In Greek, plits plits πλιτς πλιτς, splats splats σπλατς σπλατς
  • In Hebrew, tif taf טִיף־טַף
  • In Hindi, tipak, tipak
  • In Hungarian, csöp-csöp, csip-csöp (csöpp or csepp is also the word for "drop")
  • In Indonesian, tik tik
  • In Italian, plin plin, plop plop
  • In Japanese, ポツポツ (potsu potsu), pota pota ポタポタ
  • In Korean, ttokttok 똑똑, ttuk-ttuk 뚝뚝
  • In Latvian, pik pik, pak pak, pakš pakš
  • In Lithuanian, krapt krapt, krap krap
  • In Macedonian, cap cap кап кап
  • In Marathi, tap-tap टप-टप
  • In Persian, ček ček, 'čak čak
  • In Polish, kap kap (kapać is the verb)
  • In Portuguese, plim plim, plic plic
  • In Romanian, pic pic
  • In Russian, kap kap кап-кап
  • In Spanish, ploc ploc, pluip pluip
  • In Swedish, dripp dropp
  • In Tagalog, tuk tuk tuk
  • In Tamil, sottu-sottu
  • In Telugu, tup tup
  • In Thai, ติ๋ง ๆ (ting ting), แหมะ ๆ (mae mae)
  • In Turkish, şıp şıp
  • In Uropi, plok
  • In Vietnamese, tỏng tỏng, toỏng toỏng, tí tách

White water

  • In Batak, soook

Wind blowing or waves flowing

  • In Albanian, kshh, fëshh
  • In Bengali, ভোঁ bhõ, শন শন shôn shôn, ঝির ঝির jhir jhir
  • In Basque, firu-firu
  • In Bulgarian, fiiuu фииуу
  • In Chinese, Mandarin, fuuu
  • In Croatian, fiju
  • In Czech, fíííí
  • In Dutch, woesh, woesj
  • In English, whoo, whoosh, swish, rustle, whine, whizz, whistle, wheeze, howl, zoom, sigh
  • In Finnish, viuuh
  • In French, frou-frou, vromb, murmur, hurl
  • In German, huiiih, wutsch, saus, rausch, wein, schwirr, heul, zoom, surr, seufz
  • In Greek, fru fru φρού φρού, sfýrigh σφύριγ, url ούρλ, sýrigh σύριγ, thýr θυρ
  • In Hindi, sarr sarr, saayein saayein
  • In Hungarian, hiss-huss, huss
  • In Italian, fiuu, fisch, mormor, url, sussurr
  • In Japanese, byuu byuu, pyuu pyuu, zawa zawa, soyo soyo
  • In Korean, wing-wing 윙윙
  • In Lithuanian, ššš
  • In Macedonian, fuuuu fuuuu фуууу фуууу
  • In Persian, moj, موج
  • In Polish, szszszsz, huuuuuu
  • In Portuguese, Vuuuush
  • In Romanian, vâj
  • In Russian, uu-u уу-у
  • In Spanish, fuuuu fuuuu, fgrrrr frgrrrr, aul, zumb, susurr
  • In Swedish, svisch
  • In Tagalog, fuuuu fuuuu
  • In Tamil, shhhhhhhhhh
  • In Telugu, shhhhhhh
  • In Thai, วิ้ว วิ้ว (wio wio), ฟิ้ว ฟิ้ว (fio fio)
  • In Turkish, vuuuu vuuuu
  • In Vietnamese, vi vu, vù vù; rì rào, xào xạc (rustling)

Others

Jingling

  • In Albanian, tring-tring, dring-dring
  • In Afrikaans, klingel, klingeling
  • In Arabic, خشخش (khashkhash)[ara 14]
  • In Armenian zar zank զար զանկ
  • In Basque, tilin-tilin, tilin-talan
  • In Bengali, rini-jhini
  • In Chinese, Cantonese, dìuh-díu fihng 吊吊捹 (吊 means "hang")
  • In Chinese, Mandarin, dīng líng 叮铃,[zho 22] dīng dāng 叮当 [zho 23]
  • In Batak, giring, giring
  • In Bulgarian, ljush-bash люш-баш, ding-dong динг-донг
  • In Croatian, ding dong
  • In Czech, cinky-cink
  • In Dutch, tingeling
  • In English, clink clank, dingle dangle, jingle jangle
  • In Estonian kill-kõll, kilks-kõlks, kilin-kõlin
  • In Finnish, kilin, helin
  • In French, ding-dong
  • In German, klingeling
  • In Greek, ντινγκ ντανγκ (ding dang)
  • In Hebrew, ding-dong דִינְג־דוֹנְג[heb 10]
  • In Hungarian, csing-ling, bim-bam, giling-galang
  • In Japanese, チリンチリン (chirin chirin), チーン (chīn)
  • In Korean, dallang dallang 달랑달랑 ttallang ttallang 딸랑딸랑 jjallang jjallang 짤랑짤랑
  • In Latvian, dzin dzin
  • In Macedonian, dang, ding, dong данг, динг, донг
  • In Malay, ding dong, kring kring
  • In Polish, dzyń-dzyń
  • In Romanian, ding-dong
  • In Russian, din'-don динь-дон dzìnj-dzìnj дзынь-дзынь
  • In Spanish, ding ding
  • In Swedish, dingelidång kling klang
  • In Tagalog, klang klang
  • In Tamil, sil-sila silu-sila
  • In Thai, เคร้ง (kreng), กรุ๊งกริ๊ง (krung kring)
  • In Turkish, çangır çungur, şangır şungur

References

Arabic words

  1. "Sneeze like an Arab: Onomatopoeias in the Middle East". al-bawaba. October 4, 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  2. Dickinson, James; Hervey, Sándor; Higgins, Ian (2002). Thinking Arabic Translation: A course in translation method. London: Routledge. p. 75.
  3. الدغامين, أحمد (March 6, 2008). "السموع : أسماء أصوات الحيوانات والطيور بالعربية ( الجزء الأول )". Abu Dhabi. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  4. "quack". Reverso Dictionary. Reverso-Softissimo. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  5. "Translation of "وقوق" in English". Reverso Context. Reverso-Softissimo. 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  6. الباحث العربي: قاموس عربي عربي
  7. Cowan, J.M., ed. (1993). The Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic (4 ed.). Spoken Language Services. p. 483. ISBN 978-0879500030.
  8. Cowan, J.M., ed. (1993). The Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic (4 ed.). Spoken Language Services. p. 784. ISBN 978-0879500030.
  9. الباحث العربي: قاموس عربي عربي
  10. الباحث العربي: قاموس عربي عربي
  11. "ثغاء". Reverso Dictionary. Reverso-Softissimo. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  12. الباحث العربي: قاموس عربي عربي
  13. Cowan, J.M., ed. (1993). The Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic (4 ed.). Spoken Language Services. p. 817. ISBN 978-0879500030.
  14. Muhammad Muhaidat, Fatima (2009). A Tale of Two Cities in Arabic Translation. Boca Raton: Universal-Publishers. ISBN 9781599422893.

Chinese words

Croatian words

Danish words

English words

French words

  1. "Nyaa or miao? Animal sounds across languages". Living Language. March 8, 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2018.

German words

  1. "Nyaa or miao? Animal sounds across languages". Living Language. March 8, 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2018.

Greek words

  1. http://www.greek-language.gr/greekLang/modern_greek/tools/lexica/triantafyllides/search.html?lq=%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%AC&dq=
  2. Aristophanes, son of Philippus (1920). Acharnians. New York: Liveright. p. 780. Retrieved 12 April 2018.

Hebrew words

Italian words

  1. "Nyaa or miao? Animal sounds across languages". Living Language. March 8, 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2018.

Japanese words

  1. むしゃ‐むしゃ. Yahoo! Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2012-04-04. Retrieved 2011-05-05.
  2. もぐ‐もぐ. Yahoo! Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2012-04-04. Retrieved 2011-05-05.
  3. ぱく‐ぱく. Yahoo! Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2012-04-04. Retrieved 2011-05-05.
  4. ごくっ‐と. Yahoo! Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2012-09-10. Retrieved 2011-05-05.
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-04-04. Retrieved 2011-05-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-04-04. Retrieved 2011-05-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-09-08. Retrieved 2011-05-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-04-04. Retrieved 2011-05-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-04-04. Retrieved 2011-05-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. "Nyaa or miao? Animal sounds across languages". Living Language. March 8, 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2018.

Marathi words

  1. "प्राण्यांचे_आवाज" from the Marathi Wikipedia

Portuguese words

  1. Marcello, Dulce (October 24, 2016). "How To Say Ouch, Atchoo, and Meow in Portuguese". Living Language. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  2. Trem da alegria

Spanish words

  1. "Nyaa or miao? Animal sounds across languages". Living Language. March 8, 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2018.

Ukrainian words

Urdu words

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