How to write the sound of things (G-M)
G
gabing
sound of a flying object hitting someone's head ("Garfield", Jim Davis)
keywords hard_hit
gada, gada, gada
sound of drums ("Misoso: Once Upon a Time Tales from Africa", by Verna Aardema)
keywords music
gag
to choke
keywords human disease eat_drink animal
gaggle
the chatter or cackle of geese
keywords animal bird
gak
Sound uttered by a person choking. Also: argh, awk, gasp
keywords disease pain eat_drink
gargle
to wash the mouth with suspended liquid, also: gurgle
keywords liquid
gasp
sound produced by victim of punch in the stomach (Shonen Jump, Dragon Ball, manga comic). the original word, meaning "to catch the breath convulsively and audibly (as with shock)" is not directly imitative
keywords human hard_hit
gecko
name of lizard species, comes from Malay word "gekoq", imitiative of its call. (More about geckos)
keywords animal
gibber(ish)
1. to speak rapidly, inarticulately, and often foolishly (imitative origin), 2. according to this wikipedia entry, it is also a verb for the sound made by apes/monkeys (as in "while dogs bark, monkeys gibber")
keywords human animal
giggle
laugh in a manner suggestive of foolish levity or uncontrollable amusement
keywords human laughter
glok / klok
sound of a kick against someone's body (head, for example) ("Shonen Jump, Dragon Ball", manga comic by Akira Toriyama), also: bwak, bwok, glok, klam, klok, shwap, thwogg, whack, wham, wap, whap, whop, whump
keywords hard_hit
glop
sound something liquidy and unappetizing hitting a dinner plate
keywords human eat_drink
glug
sound of swallowing a drink
keywords human eat_drink
gnash
to strike teeth together
keywords human animal
gnaw
to bite persistently
keywords human eat_drink animal
gobble
bird vocalization, typically a turkey
keywords animal bird
gong
metallic disk used as a percussive musical instrument named by the sound produced when struck
keywords music
gray-winged trumpeter
(Psophia crepitans) bird species found in South America, whose song is a low humming, but its call, as its name suggests, is a very loud JEEK or honking TZAAK, which may be the reason for the name "trumpeter". This bird is kept as a pet by Amerindians, since it is easily tamed, hunts snakes, and is a very efficient sentinel, with its unmissable alarm call. about this bird
keywords animal bird
great kiskadee
passerine bird (Pitangus sulphuratus) found in southern Texas and middle and south america. this bird is a flycatcher. the voice is described by some sources as dee-kis-ka-dee, by others as BEE-tee-WEE. The latter gives the bird its name in different languages and countries: In Brazilian Portuguese the birds name is bem-te-vi, or bien-te-veo (spanish) meaning ("I've spotted you!"). In El Salvador the bird is known as Cristofue, and in Paraguay as pitogue. In French it is called tyran quiquivi. link1, link2, video
keywords animal bird
groan
1. to utter a loud deep sound of grief or pain, 2. the sound of funeral bells (in the poem"The Bells" by Edgar Allan Poe, 3. sound of drums (in the poem "Lepanto" by G. K. Chesterton: "...For he heard drums groaning and he heard guns jar ..."
keywords human human pain music
growl
a low, guttural, menacing sound made by an animal, such as a bear
keywords animal
grumble
to mutter in discontent
keywords human
grump
to growl, rumble. Grumpy: surly tempered, making inarticulate noises betokening displeasure
keywords human
grunt
pig vocalization, the deep short sound characteristic of a hog
keywords human animal
guffaw
course, hearty, boisterous laughter, belly laugh
keywords human laughter
gulla, gulla, glugluglugluglug
sound of a bad axle, in a car (Cartalk)
keywords automotive car engine metal
gulp
to swallow greedily or rapidly in large amounts. e.g. "she gulps down a whole mug of coffee".
keywords human eat_drink
gunko, gunko
sound of wagon wheels ("Pedro and the padre", by Verna Aardema)
keywords engine
gurgle
to flow in a broken irregular current, make the sound of bubbling liquid, washing the mouth with suspended liquid (soundclip), also: gargle
keywords liquid
gurrhr
cry of a cat, as used in James Joyce's Ulysses
keywords animal
gwuf, gwuf, gwuf
sound of footstep ("Pedro and the padre", by Verna Aardema)
keywords human movement
gyuh gyuh,gyuh
signature laugh of sherrif Roscoe P. Coltrane in tv series The Dukes of Hazzard
keywords laughter
H
ha ha / ha ha! / haha / haha!
laughter. most common form. intensity grows by adding ha's. absence of an exclamation mark can be a hint of sarcasm, or indicate a polite, but unenthusiastic laugh. dependent on context, tone, facial expression, etc.
keywords laughter
ha!
1. laughter. not a boisterous laugh, but amused. 2. Also an exclamation used by the good guy jumping out of the bushes to suprise a villain
keywords laughter
HA-ha!
signature laugh of Nelson, a character from The Simpsons. Nelson is a bully at Bart Simpson's school, and he laughs at anyone who is in danger. His laugh is also written as "Haw-Haw!". link to sound
keywords human laughter
ha-ha-ha-HA-ha!
emphasis on the fourth Ha (louder and higher pitch) and first three ha's gradually go up in pitch. signature laugh of cartoon character Woody Woodpecker. Youtube
keywords laughter
ha.
laughter, but not enthusiastic. bored, in a hurry, or not really amused
keywords laughter
hackigi-gi-gi-gi!
laughter. signature laugh of Ed Bickel, from 3 south
keywords laughter
hah!
laughter. diminutive, victorious
keywords laughter
har har!
laughter. sarcastic, as if sarcastically saying "very funny." or old fashioned hick laugh
keywords laughter
harumph
Interjection, an expression of disdain, disbelief, protest, or dismissal; a huff, grunt, or snort. also: harumpf
keywords interjection human
haw
laughter, often used to express scorn or disbelief. Often duplicated or triplicated (haw haw or haw haw haw)
keywords human laughter
he-he
laughter
keywords human laughter
hee haw
1. bray of a donkey, 2. loud coarse laugh
keywords human laughter
hee! / heeheehee!
laughter. sometimes slightly naughty, e.g. when used after pulling a naughty prank
keywords laughter
heh, heh!
laughter. sometimes perverted, or meaning "that's not really funny". Usually, "heh" is a quiet laughing sound, not laughing out loud. Heh heh may also be a good transcription of the signature laugh of Beavis, from cartoon Beavis and Butthead. Sometimes simply a more faint, private laugh
keywords laughter
hehehe!
laughter. evil laugh used by bad guy when one of his plans goes right
keywords laughter
hem /ahem
clearing throat
keywords human
hey
interjection used especially to call attention or to express interrogation, surprise, or exultation
keywords human
hhhhrrrrrrnnnnngggg
sound of the goal light and siren in a hockey game (ref)
keywords sports hockey goal alarm siren tone
hi
interjection used as a greeting
keywords human
hiccup / hiccough
spasm of the respiratory organs accompanied by a resonant gasping noise
keywords human human eat_drink
hip
interjection used to introduce a united cheer (cf. hip-hip-hurrah). in the meaning "trendy" or "informed", it may come from "hep" (african-american slang), of which the origin is not clear
keywords human
hiss
to make a sharp sibilant sound, produced by geese and snakes, or a cat (when angry/scared)
keywords gas
hissssssssss ssss ss
(automotive) sound a of a failing brake booster
keywords engine automotive
hm(m)
interjection used in many ways, one of which is to indicate that one is thinking, feeling, introspecting
keywords human
hmpf / humph / humpf
interjection used to express doubt or contempt
keywords human
ho ho ho!
laughter. signature laugh of Santaclaus
keywords laughter
ho hum
interjection used to express weariness, boredom, or disdain
keywords human
hock
sound of clearing one's throat
keywords human
hohn hohn hohn hohn!
laughter. evil... and French. "We will show the stupid Americans who le clutzy frog, eh?" "HOHN! HOHN! HOHN! HOHN!" -- The Simpsons, Treehouse of Horror 8
keywords laughter
honk
1. bird vocalization (e.g. goose), 2. car-horn
keywords animal bird automotive
hoo hoo
bird vocalization: the cry of an owl, also: hoot, tu-whu, terwit terwoo, whit woo, twit twoo
keywords animal bird
hoo hoo hoo hoo
1. monkey vocalization, also: ook, hoo hoo hoo hoo, oo oo oo, 2. the sound of wind, 3. the sound of a ghost (2 and 3: in the poem "The congo" by Vachel Lindsay "...Like the wind. Hoo, Hoo, Hoo. Listen to the yell of Leopold's ghost..."
keywords animal weather
hoopoe
name of bird species. imitative origin, but the hoopoe's call is actually a trisyllabic "oop-oop-oop". link (video)
keywords animal bird
hooray / hurrah
exclamation used to express joy, approval, or encouragement
keywords human
hoot
bird vocalization, usually the cry of an owl. also: hoo hoo, tu-whu, terwit terwoo, whit woo
keywords animal bird
hottentot
member of native S. African race. Possibly imitative of the language spoken by the people referred to
keywords human
houyhnhnm
Pronounced "Whin-ems," like a horse's whinny, the Houyhnhnm are a race of intelligent horses in book 4 of Jonathan Swift's novel Gulliver's Travels
keywords animal misc
howl
prolonged, doleful cry, typically of a wolf, but can be human or monkey too.
keywords animal human
howler monkey
Howler monkeys are widely considered to be the loudest land animal. The main vocals consist of loud, deep guttural growls or "howls". Their vocalizations can be heard from 3 miles (4.8 km) away. It is hypothesized that the function of howling relates to intergroup spacing and territory protection, as well as possibly mate-guarding. more
keywords animal
hrrooonnh
this is one of several suggestions in response to the question of how to write the sound of a bull, on wiki-answers. also: muuhhhrrr, rrrruuuurrrr, moo, low, huuuooohar. if you need a verb: bulls "bellow" (not directly imitative)
keywords animal
huff
sound of exhaling, blowing, puffing
keywords animal gas
huh
interjection used to express surprise, disbelief, or confusion, or as an inquiry inviting affirmative reply, also: uh-huh
keywords human
huh huh huh!
laughter. signature laugh of Butt-head from cartoon Beavis and Butthead
keywords laughter
hum
1. to make a low inarticulate murmuring sound, sometimes making a melody "to hum a tune",
2. a verb for the sound that bees and hummingbirds make (eg. "the dog barks, the bee hums"), also: buzz
keywords animal music
hummingbird
Hummingbirds are birds that comprise the family Trochilidae. They are among the smallest of birds. They can hover in mid-air and fly backwards, Their English name derives from the characteristic hum made by their rapid wing beats. more
keywords animal bird
humph / humpf / hmpf
interjection used to express doubt or contempt
keywords human
hurrah / hooray
exclamation used to express joy, approval, or encouragement
keywords human
hush
to put at rest, stop talking, make quiet
keywords human
huuuooohar
this is one of several suggestions in response to the question of how to write the sound of a bull, on wiki-answers. also: rrrruuuurrrr, moo, low, hrrooonnh, muuhhhrrr. if you need a verb: bulls "bellow" (not directly imitative)
keywords animal
huuuuuuuuuugh
cry of a hippopotamus
keywords animal
hyuk hyuk!
laughter. more old fashioned and more hick than yuk, yuk
keywords laughter
J
jabber
to talk fast and indistinctly, imitative origin
keywords human
jangle
to make a harsh metallic sound, or to cause to make a harsh discordant sound
keywords metal
jar
1. harsh sound,
2. the sound of guns (in the poem "Lepanto" by G. K. Chesterton: "...For he heard drums groaning and he heard guns jar ..."
keywords weapon crack hard_hit explosion
jee je je jeee
(automotive) clutch release bearing on the way out. Cartalk
keywords engine automotive
jingle
1. to make a light clinking or tinkling metallic sound, 2. to rhyme or sound in a catchy repetitious manner 3. brief musical tune to mark the beginning of a show or segment of a show
keywords metal music
jug
sound of palm-muted power chords on an electric guitar. used in playing "air-guitar". often repetitive (jug jug jug - jug jug jug), typical of the musical style. as in Foo Fighters - "One by One". see also: neow, whockah, bwow-chcka-bwow
keywords music
jump
to move or be moved off the ground. Possibly imitative of the sound of feet coming into contact with ground when landing
keywords animal movement
K
ka-ching
sound of cash register, also: cha-ching
keywords metal
Kaaahhkkk
Sound of a cat coughing up a hairball
keywords animal eat_drink disease cat
kaaapooooom
sound of a car running over a road safety bump (ref)
keywords car automotive movement hit
kaboom
explosion. also: blam, badaboom, boom, baroom, sssshblamm, kapow
keywords explosion
kapow
explosion
keywords explosion
kashl
(pronounced cashel)sound of a rattly, phlegmy cough
keywords human disease crack
kata-kata
sound of running footsteps ("Misoso: Once Upon a Time Tales from Africa", by Verna Aardema)
keywords human movement
katydid
insect family also known as bush-cricket, long-horned grasshopper, named for the sound produced by the male (north american species)
keywords animal
kea
(Nestor notabilis) name of a parrot species found in the mountains of New Zealand. Raucous cries of "keeaa" often give away the presence of these highly social and inquisitive birds. about this bird
keywords animal bird
kekekeke!
laughter. more old fashioned and more hick than yuk, yuk
keywords laughter
killdeer
bird species named by their typical call
keywords animal bird
kirik
sound of breaking metal ("Misoso: Once Upon a Time Tales from Africa", by Verna Aardema)
keywords metal crack
kish-kish
the sound of ice skates during a game of hockey (ref)
keywords ice movement human skating sports
kite
old english name for bird of prey, usually a small hawk - probably imitative of its shrill plaintive cry
keywords animal bird
kittiwake
name for bird genus Rissa, two closely related seabird species in the gull family Laridae, the Black-legged Kittiwake (R. tridactyla) and the Red-legged Kittiwake (R. brevirostris). The name is derived from its call, a shrill "kittee-wa-aaake, kitte-wa-aaake"
keywords animal bird
klam
sound of a punch/hit during a fight ("Shonen Jump, Dragon Ball", manga comic by Akira Toriyama)
keywords hard_hit
klok, glok
sound of a kick against someone's body (head, for example) ("Shonen Jump, Dragon Ball", manga comic by Akira Toriyama), also: bwak, bwok, glok, klam, klok, shwap, thwogg, whack, wham, wap, whap, whop, whump
keywords hard_hit
klopp klopp klopp
sound of a horse, walking (from "Mr. Brown can moo, can you?" by Dr. Seuss)
keywords animal
klunk
sound of heavy metallic objects colliding
keywords hard_hit
knack
sharp blow or sound
keywords hard_hit
knell
sound of a bell struck or rung
keywords hard_hit
knock-knock
sound of striking with a sounding blow. As in knocking on a door
keywords hard_hit
knot
bird species, see red knot
keywords animal bird
koink
sound of squeezing a can of oil to lubricate something ("Garfield", Jim Davis)
keywords metal engine liquid
kong
sound of food bowl hitting the head (dog (Odie) getting hit on the head with a food bowl, "Garfield", Jim Davis)
keywords hard_hit
kra, ka, ka, hi
sound of drums ("Misoso: Once Upon a Time Tales from Africa", by Verna Aardema)
keywords music
Krrrrrrrr
Sound of a skateboarder skateboarding. Skateboarder doing a trick: "Krrrrrrrr, snap! (pause) Crack! Krrrrrrrr..." user Mikemega on answerbag.com
keywords movement human sport toy
kut-kut-kut
sound of a hen, clucking ("Misoso: Once Upon a Time Tales from Africa", by Verna Aardema)
keywords animal bird
kwok
sound of an earthenware pot being smashed to pieces on the ground ("Misoso: Once Upon a Time Tales from Africa", by Verna Aardema)
keywords hard_hit
L
lap
to drink, lick with the tongue
keywords human animal liquid
lash
1. to move violently or suddenly. also: to dash, 2. to thrash or beat violently, as in "the rain lashed at the windowpanes"
keywords hard_hit movement movement weather
lilt
sound of horn, or singing
keywords music
lisp
to speak with sibilant utterance
keywords human
low
cattle vocalization
keywords animal
M
meow
cat vocalization
keywords animal
mew
cat vocalization
keywords animal
mkgnao / mrkgnao / mrkrgnao
cry of a cat, as used in James Joyce's Ulysses
keywords animal
moan
1. long low inarticulate murmur, 2. (less common) word describing the sound of doves (as in "The moan of doves in immemorial elms" in the poem "Come Down, O Maid" by Alfred Lord Tennyson), 3. (less common) the sound of wind (in the poem "the night wind", by Eugene Field: "... For the wind will moan in its ruefullest tone:
keywords human human pain disease weather
moo
cow vocalization
keywords animal
moob
sound of an "implosion bomb". In a classic Uncle Scrooge tale by Carl Barks, Gyro Gearloose invented an "implosion bomb" that sucked up material and compacted it into a neat pile. Intended for litter collection, the Written Sound Effect was "MOOB", explicitly stated to be "BOOM" backwards. TvTropes
keywords misc explosion weapons
mopoke
bird species also called Morepork, in Australia, two bird species known elsewhere as the tawny frogmouthabout this bird
keywords animal bird
morepork
bird species also called mopoke or frogmouth
keywords animal bird
mrow
cat vocalization
keywords animal
mrrrrgggggllll
sound made by murlocs (creatures in the massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) World of Warcraft. also: mrclughluhlua, maagluuuuughhhhhh, mrglmrglmrglmrgl, aurrrrrrrrruuuuggguglugglugglugluguaa (according to players)
keywords animal
mum
sound with closed lips not wanting to speak
keywords human
mumble
to speak indistinctly
keywords human
munch
to chew steadily
keywords human eat_drink animal
murmur
1. subdued continuous sound (often human voices), 2. to murmur, (less common) verb describing the sound of a swarm of bees or flies (as in "murmuring of innumerable bees", from the poem "Come Down, O Maid" by Alfred Lord Tennyson)
keywords human
mutter
to speak almost inaudibly with closed lips
keywords human
muuhhhrrr
this is one of several suggestions in response to the question of how to write the sound of a bull, on wiki-answers. also: rrrruuuurrrr, moo, low, hrrooonnh, huuuooohar. if you need a verb: bulls "bellow" (not directly imitative)
keywords animal
mwahaha / mwahaha! / muahaha!
laughter, this is usually an evil sounding laugh.
keywords laughter