Sound & Words Around The World
Onomatopoeia involves the use or formation of words that imitate the sound of something. The word itself has Greek origins and made the transition to English via Latin in the 16th century. It literally means ‘word-making’. But onomatopoeia is a strange concept because its definition is challenged by different languages worldwide.
Words that imitate the same sound sometimes seem to have little in common in different languages. Meanings of onomatopoeic words can change over time so that the imitative origins of words are no longer obvious.
The sound of something is generally the same wherever you are in the world. If you drop a glass on the floor in England or Korea, for instance, it makes the same noise, yet the sounds used to describe it can be significantly different in different countries.
Onomatopoeia has a big presence in languages around the world – from English and French to Korean and Japanese, it is used by millions of people on a daily basis to imitate or suggest the source of a sound.
But there is no such thing as a universal stock list. Words tend to vary across different nationalities and cultures, sometimes dramatically. Each country therefore has its own collection of onomatopoeic expressions.
1. A dog barking
But while the words are completely different, there is a sense of shared understanding in most cases.
In the case of a leaking tap, for example, ‘DRIP DROP’, ‘PLIC PLOC’ and ‘PLITSCH PLATSCH’ all use the same initial sound – a plosive. This makes sense for the most part as the ‘P’ conveys the sound of the water hitting the surface. So, by pointing at a leaking tap and saying ‘PLIC PLOC’, it is likely someone who speaks a different language would know exactly what is going on.
But there is no such thing as a universal stock list. Words tend to vary across different nationalities and cultures, sometimes dramatically. Each country therefore has its own collection of onomatopoeic expressions.
- English – TICK TOCK (the sound of a clock)
- Korean – CHIK CHIK POK POK (the sound of a train)
- French – RON PSHI (snoring)
- Japanese – PACHI PACHI (the sounds of a crackling fire)
- German – MAMPF MAMPF (munching)
1. A dog barking
- In English, ‘WOOF WOOF’ is used to describe the noise of a dog barking
- In Russian ‘GAV GAV’ is predominantly used. If they are small dogs, on the other hand, then Russians tend to use ‘TYAV TYAV’.
- In French it is ‘OUAF OUAF’.
- Swedish ones (the yappy kind) say bjäbb bjäbb
- In Spain, guau guau
- In China, wang wang.
- ‘Wah-Wah’ is used to describe a baby crying in English,
- ‘OUIN OUIN’ is used in French
- ‘BUA BUA’ is used in Spanish
- ‘EUNG’AE-EUNG’AE’ is what Koreans use
- ‘BAM’, ‘BOOM’, ‘BANG’ and ‘POW’ are used to convey the sound of a gunshot in English.
- ‘BOUM’ and ‘PAN’ are used in French
- ‘BUM’ and ‘PUM’ are used in Italian
- ‘BA-BAKH’ and ‘PIF-PAF’ are used in Russian
- ‘OUCH’ is used in English when someone gets hurt
- In French a person would scream out ‘AIE’ instead
- In German, someone would use ‘AU’, ‘AUA’ or ‘AUTSCH’ to indicate pain or injury.
- The sound of water hitting the surface of a sink from a dripping tap is described as ‘DRIP DROP’ in English
- ‘PLIC PLOC’ is used to make the sound in French
- ‘PLITSCH PLATSCH’ is used in German.
But while the words are completely different, there is a sense of shared understanding in most cases.
In the case of a leaking tap, for example, ‘DRIP DROP’, ‘PLIC PLOC’ and ‘PLITSCH PLATSCH’ all use the same initial sound – a plosive. This makes sense for the most part as the ‘P’ conveys the sound of the water hitting the surface. So, by pointing at a leaking tap and saying ‘PLIC PLOC’, it is likely someone who speaks a different language would know exactly what is going on.
Onomatopoeia is therefore an extremely useful part of language. It can bridge gaps and establish connections.
The noise that cats make is another example of shared understanding between onomatopoeias.
- In English, the sound is described as ‘MEOW’
- In German it is ‘MIAU’
- In French ‘MIAOU’
- In Spanish ‘MIAU’
- In Chinese ‘MIAO’.
Recent research suggests the structure of vocabulary in English, including onomatopoeia, helps children learn.
An international team led by Professor Padraic Monaghan, from the Department of Psychology at Lancaster University, claim sounds relate to meaning for the words that children encounter during their early years. Symbolism is therefore necessary for language acquisition by youngsters as they grow up.
Philosophy of language
Philosophy of language
- Ferdinand de Saussure, a Swiss linguist and semiotician, claimed that onomatopoeic words could, in fact, be coincidental, evolving from non-onomatopoeic origins, rather than having any direct link between word and meaning.
- He used the French and English onomatopoeic words for a dog’s bark as an example (OUAF OUAF versus WOOF WOOF) of this randomness, while he also dismissed interjections with a similar argument, pointing primarily to the contrast in pain interjection in French and English (AIE versus OUCH).
- On the other hand, Jacques Derrida, a French philosopher, argued that Saussure tried to make onomatopoeia external to the essential arbitrariness of the internal system of language, seeing it as a threat.
- He regarded onomatopoeia as a natural process that was engrained in the evolution of language.
- Both points of view have fuelled heated debates among linguists for hundreds of years. But the fact remains that onomatopoeia is going nowhere, it is here to stay and will continue to play a role in societies around the world.
- Boom! if you're English
- Boum if you’re French
- Bom if you’re Swedish
- Bum if you’re Italian.
- Italian: Ticchettio — The sound of a clock ticking
- Spanish: Carcajada — A guffaw or loud laugh
- German: Kladderadatsch — The sound of a large object crashing to the ground (aka a big scandal)
- Russian: шныряет (shnyryayet) — Digging around for something
- Japanes: ドキドキ (doki doki) — The sound of a heart thumping
- French: Ron pshi — Snoring
- Swedish: Svisch — The sound of wind blowing
- Korean: 칙칙폭폭 (chikchik-pokpok) – The sound of a train
- Portuguese: Tatibitate — A stutterer or fool
Love
It’s the international language. But even this we all speak differently, or at least in different onomatopoeias.
NomsIt’s the international language. But even this we all speak differently, or at least in different onomatopoeias.
- English, Italian and Swedish all agree that the sound of a kiss is smack
- Danish møs
- Hungarian cupp
- Turkish muck
- Japanese チュー (chū)
- Macedonian цмок (tsmoc)
- Spanish mua, muac, or the Latin American chuik
- French mouah
- Czech buch buch
- Dutch boenk boenk
- Arabic رطم رطم (raṭama-raṭama)
- Indonesian dag-dig-dug
- Korean 두근두근 (dugeun dugeun)
- Marathi धड धड (dhad dhad)
- Thai ตุ้บ ตุ้บ (tup tup)
- English Chomp, munch, chow, nosh, yum (or, more recently, om nom nom)
- German mampf mampf
- Hungarian nyamm nyamm
- Korean 냠냠 (nyam nyam)
- Bengali গবা গব (goba gob)
- Polish mniam mniam
- Japanese もぐもぐ (mogu mogu)
- Dutch jam jam
- Basque mauka mauka.
Sneezes
- Mandarin 阿嚏 (ā tì)
- French atchoum
- Macedonian Апчиха! (apchixa!)
- Vietnamese hắt xì!
- Slovak hapčí
- Afrikaans atiesjoe!
- Finnish Ätshii
- German hatschu
- Spain doministiku, atxum, ¡Achís!
Laughter
It sounds the same in every language, but we use different onomatopoeias to try to capture it in written language.
It sounds the same in every language, but we use different onomatopoeias to try to capture it in written language.
- Many languages use some variation on haha or hehe
- Spanish jaja and jiji
- Spain’s Basque and Catalan languages offer kar kar and clac clac, respectively
- Batak says kakak and Armenian is ka ka ka.
- Hebrew חָה־חָה־חָה (xà xà xà)
- Mandarin’s 嘻嘻 (xī xī)
- Japan giggles as フフ (fu fu)
- Korean 케케케 (kekeke).
Thinking Filler
Um. It must be one of the most popular words in American English. While not strictly an onomatopoeia, because it doesn’t mimic an external sound, this unprofessional filler has its echoes all around the world. They begin with the British English erm.
Um. It must be one of the most popular words in American English. While not strictly an onomatopoeia, because it doesn’t mimic an external sound, this unprofessional filler has its echoes all around the world. They begin with the British English erm.
- Hebrew you utter - אהמ (ehm)
- German you stutter - ähm
- French - heu
- Czech - é
- Norwegian - ø
- Swedish - öh
- Hmmm is common to Hungarian, Indonesian, Turkish, Russian, Latvian, Polish, Persian, and English as well.
Machines, Natural Phenomena, and Other Onomatopoeias
- Japanese パチパチ (pachi pachi): the sound of a crackling fire
- German grummel: the sound of thunder rolling
- Arabic تــرن تــرن (terren terren): a phone ringing
- Lithuanian krapt krapt: water droplets
- Swedish knapp knapp: the sound of typing
- Turkish düt düt: a car horn
- Bulgarian хлоп (khlop): the equivalent of bump or thud
- Hindi धिशुम्म (dhishumm): the sound of a car crash
- Korean 찌릿찌릿 (jjirit jjirit): an electric buzzing
Specific Languages:
CHINESE
1. One-character Words
Simple onomatopoeic words include characters that are monosyllabic. These are one character words that will usually not have a tone to them. Some simple one-character words and their English equivalents include:
轰 (hōng) — boom
啪 (pā) — bang
砰 (pēng) — thump
唰 (shuā) — swish
2. Alliterative
Some simple onomatopoeic words will be alliterative, where both syllables use the same initial. Examples include:
叮当 (dīng dāng) — clashing of metal or porcelain objects sounds
嘀嗒 (dí dā) — equivalent to English “tick-tock”
噼啪 (pī pā) — cracking or slapping sound
3. Vowel Rhymes
Vowel rhymes are where both syllables use the same final. For example:
哗啦 (huá la) — crashing or flowing sound of water
轰隆 (hōng lóng) — rumbling sound
呼噜 (hū lū) — snoring sound
咔嚓 (kā chā) — cracking sound
4. Other Two-character Words
There are some other words that do not fall in so easily to the above categories, but are still simple two-character onomatopoeias.
刺溜 (cì liū) — sliding sound
嘎吱 (gā zī) — breaking or creaking sound due to heaviness
扑通 (pū tōng) — the sound when heavy objects are landing
Reduplicated Chinese Onomatopoeia
Reduplicated onomatopoeias are ones that will repeat certain characters in certain patterns. This is similar to onomatopoeia sounds in English like how a clicking sound can turn into “click click,” the sound of rain takes on “pitter patter, pitter patter” or a dog bark sounds like “woof woof.” Many of these will be similar to their English counterparts.
5. AA and AAA
These will make up the basis of the other forms, but can be simplified to these characters:
哈哈 (hā hā) — laughter sound
呼呼 (hū hū) — sound of the wind
哗哗 (huá huá) — sound of water or rain falling
唧唧 (jī jī) — buzzing or chirping sound, usually related to insects
喵喵 (miāo miāo) — meowing sound
哇哇 (wā wā) — crying sound
旺旺 (wàng wàng) — the sound of the bark of a dog
嘻嘻 (xī xī) — giggling sound
Any of the above onomatopoeic words that take on a AA form can also be transformed to take on the AAA form. Just as we differentiate “haha” from “hahaha,” a character in AAA form will usually represent a more intense version of the sound.
Note that cats do still “meow” in Chinese, but dogs “wang” instead of “woof!”
6. ABB
Words in the ABB form will be composed of a disyllabic word where the second syllable is repeated. For example:
嘀铃铃 (dí líng líng) — telephone ringing sound
咕噜噜 (gū lū lū) — water or rolling sound
轰隆隆 (hōng lóng lóng) — rumbling noise
哗啦啦 (huá la la) — wind or flowing water sound
7. AAB
The opposite of words in ABB form, AAB form is made up of a disyllabic word whose first syllable is repeated.
叮叮当 (dīng dīng dāng) — the sound when metal strikes on metal, or sounds of bells
乒乒乓 (pīng pīng pāng) — the sound that happens when objects strike each other
8. AABB
Words in AABB form will usually be separated by a hyphen to show the difference between AA and BB.
Words in AABB form will usually be separated by a hyphen to show the difference between AA and BB.
滴滴-嗒嗒 (dī dī-dā dā) — ticking clock sound
唧唧-咕咕 (jī jī-gū gū) — whispering sound
叽叽-喳喳 (jī jī-zhā zhā) — birds chirping sound
噼噼-啪啪 (pī pī-pā pā) — patting or slapping sound
乒乒-乓乓 (pīng pīng-pāng pāng) — the sound that happens when objects strike each other
9. ABAB
Onomatopoeias in ABAB form are usually from the simple category above, and are duplicated for a dramatized version and effect.
嘀嗒嘀嗒 (dī dā dī dā) — ticking clock sound
哗啦哗啦 (huá la huá la) — wind or flowing water sound
扑通扑通 (pū tōng pū tōng) — the sound when heavy objects are landing
FRENCH V ENGLISH
1. The Written Sound Of A Kiss In French = Smack!
- “Smack” is the sound of a soft kiss in French.
- “kiss kiss” is “smack, smack”
- “smack” is the written sound for slapping in English! Quite the opposite
- In French, a slap is accompanied by a big: “paf !”
- Other French sounds for hitting would be “vlan”, “pif” (especially when hitting someone on the nose), “pof”, “tchoc”, “tchac”, “bang”…
- No Zzzz
- Pretty loud for a hushing sound if you consider the T is pronounced. This is how “soft” the French T is….
- And the French onomatopoeia for falling on the ground is “patatra” (kaboum)
6.The French Sound For Disgust = Beurk
- No “Yack” in French but quite a different onomatopoeia: “beurk”, or simply “berk”!
- It’s their Yum And they use it a lot
- French people often show their appreciation for food by humming a “mmmm” sound.
- Pronounced it just like “eye”. We often repeat it three times: “aïe-aïe-aïe”!
- Pronounce this one with a hard G, the u is silent. So Gili-gili.
“The formation or use of words such as buzz or murmur that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to.”
With having known this definition, we are going to go the desi way and address a few Indian onomatopoeic words
1. Gud-Gud
It is supposed to be pronounced one after the other, in a quick manner and pronounce the ‘d’ with a roll of your tongue. We Indians have a weird manner of saying, “Mom, I’m hungry.” It goes like “Mummy, pet mein gud-gud ho raha hai.”
2. Chhuk Chhuk Gaadi
This is one thing that every Indian child grows up saying – Chhuk Chhuk Gadi. Which refers to the train’s engine’s sound.
3. Chattar Pattar – Chappad Chappad
Take it chattar pattar or chappad chappad, they both refer to the consistent talkativeness of women!
4. Phataka
This is the name given to fire-crackers in India. Because when we burst them, they sound like pha-ta-pha-te-ta-ka-pha-ta-pha-ta-pha-ka (Speak it fast, in one breath!).
5. Dhishum-Dhishum
Apparently the sound of fighting by hitting is dhhishuuum dhhishuuum! Hence, the word fighting has been dropped and replaced by the colloquial dhishum-dhishum.
6. Dhishkiyaaun
It is similar to the sound of a gunshot. And it has gone to the level of the entire action of killing someone being called ‘dhishkiyaaun’.
Eg: “Usne usko dhishkiyaaun kar dia.” (He killed him)
7. Thappi
It refers to the repeated and soft manner in which our mums pat us on our head to make us go off to sleep. The light thap-thap sound has taken a cute avatar and become ‘thappi’.
8. Phuuuus!
The funny mild fart sound is what is called phuus! This sound comes when want to fart but you control it, control it, control it; and then lightly release it in installments! This is such a loved and cherished word that there are even different names for the same – phuski, phus phus etc.
9. Chhap-Chhap
Weirdly, just slapping your feet across the water surface, be it lake or a pool, is called chhap-chhap (the sound of the water splash).
10. Muahs
A kiss
11. Sar-Sar
The blowing of the wind also has been assigned a sound – sar-sar
12. Chat-pats!
Well this one is a little uncommon but Flip-flops are many a times called ‘chat-pats’ due to the flippy-flappy sound that comes when you wear them and walk.
13. Thak-thak
In India if someone knocks your door, people say, “Thak-thak hui hai” (Thak-thak happened). Instead of “Koi darwazey par hai” (Someone is at the door).
SPANISH
| Spanish Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| achí | achoo (the sound of a sneeze) |
| achuchar | to crush |
| arrullar | to coo, to lull to sleep |
| auuuu | howl of a wolf |
| aullar | to howl |
| bang bang | bang-bang (the sound of a gun) |
| be | bleat (as of a ram or similar animal) |
| berp | croak (as of a frog) |
| bisbisear | to murmur or mumble |
| brrr | brr (the sound one makes when cold) |
| bu | boo |
| bum | boom, explosion, the sound of being struck by someone or something |
| bzzz | buzz (as of a bee) |
| chascar, chasquido | to snap, to pop, to crackle |
| chilla | the scream or screech of various animals such as a fox or rabbit |
| chinchín | the sound of cymbals |
| chirriar | to creak |
| chof | splash |
| chupar | to lick or suck |
| clac | click, clack, a very brief sound such as that of a door closing |
| clic, cliquear | mouse click, to click a mouse |
| clo-clo, coc-co-co-coc, kara-kara-kara-kara | clucking sound |
| cricrí; cric cric cric | the sound of a cricket |
| croa | croak (as of a frog) |
| cruaaac cruaaac | caw (sound of birds) |
| cuac cuac | quack |
| cúcu-cúcu | cuckoo sound |
| cu-curru-cu-cú | coo |
| deslizar | to slide |
| din don, din dan, ding dong | ding-dong |
| fu | growl of a lion |
| ggggrrrr, grgrgr | growl of a tiger |
| gluglú | gobble-gobble of a turkey |
| glup | gulp |
| guau | bow-wow, dog bark |
| hipo, hipar | hiccup, to hiccup |
| iii-aah | heehaw of a donkey |
| jaja | ha-ha (the sound of laughter) |
| jiiiiiii, iiiio | neigh |
| marramao | howling of a cat |
| miau | meow of a cat |
| mu | moo |
| muac, muak, mua | sound of a kiss |
| murmurar | leaves rustling in the wind, murmur |
| ñam ñam | yum-yum |
| oinc, oink | oink |
| paf | sound of something falling or two things striking each other |
| pao | the sound of a spanking (regional use) |
| pataplum | the sound of an explosion |
| pío pío | chirp, click |
| piar | to chirp, cluck, or squawk |
| plas | splash, the sound of something hitting something |
| pop | pop (sound) |
| pop, pum | the sound of a champagne cork popping |
| puaf | yuck |
| quiquiriquí | cock-a-doodle-do |
| rataplán | the sound of a drum |
| refunfuñar | to mutter or grumble |
| silbar | to hiss or whistle |
| siseo, sisear | hiss, to hiss |
| tan tan tan | the sound of a hammer in use |
| tictac | tick-tock |
| tiritar | to shiver |
| toc toc | knock-knock |
| tocar | to touch or to play a musical instrument |
| trucar | to trick |
| tumbar | to knock down |
| uf | phew, ugh (often a sound of disgust, such as after smelling something awful) |
| uu uu | the sound an owl makes |
| zangolotear | to shake or rattle |
| zao | shoo (a shout for getting rid of animals) |
| zapear | to zap |
| zas | sound of being struck |
| zumbar | to buzz, to slap (the noun form is zumbido) |
| zurrar | to hit, to clobber |
Relevant Imagery
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