Colegio Ntra.

Seora del Carmen (La Baeza)

Some English sounds and onomatopoeias

aw!: similar to oh!
babble: the sound made by a baby; when youre engaged in a non-stop talk; talk
bang: a shoot; a door; a fist on a table or on a door; an angry judge's gavel on the bench; pots and pans in the
kitchen
bark: a dog; a pig
bawl: the sound made by a baby, a calf
beat: your heart; a drum; a bird's wings
beep: a heart machine
bellow: a cry; the sound Santa Claus makes when he laughs ( Ho! ho! ho!); an elephant
bim-bim: the sound of a set of chimes
bing: when you say zas! in Spanish
bip: the sound made by a modern telephone or a metal detector
blare: the sound made by a trumpet, a car's horn
blast: the sound of an explosion, a grenade exploding, a car/truck's honk
bleat/bleating: the bleating of the sheep
blow: the sound you make with your nose when you've got a cold and need your handkerchief; when you use
your truck's horn, you blow it
boo!: when someone tries to frighten you
boom: the sound made by an explosion, thunder, your frightened heart
bray: the sound made by a donkey
breathe: what you do in wintertime when your hands are cold
bruhaha: jaleo
bubble: a cauldron with boiling water
bump: the sound made by a telephone receiver against something
burble: the sound made by a baby, or by a crowd talking or by bubbles in the water
burp: when you've just swallowed too much fizz on the rocks
buzz: the sound made by an aeroplane, a fax machine, a printer, an electric saw, your telephone, insects, a
conversation, many people talking in a room
ca-chunk: the noise made by an oxygen feeder
cackle: the sound of an old mad witch's laugh, of hens; when you laugh
call: when you want someone to pay attention
chat: to talk (amiably)
chatter: when you talk to someone; the sound made by the snow on a window pane, by a helicopter, or by your
teeth when it's very cold and you shudder
cheep: a little chicken
chew: when you eat something
chim: the sound made by a bell or a clock
chink: the chink of ice in a crystal tumbler
chirp: birds; crickets
chirr: a cricket
chortle: when you laugh happily
chuckle: a kind of very soft laugh
chuckle: the sound you make with your tongue, for instance when you want your horse to move
chuda-chuda-chuda: the sound made by a chopper
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 Colegio Ntra. Seora del Carmen (La Baeza)

chuff: an old train chuffs

chug: the sound made an old boat or an old truck
churn: the churning noise of an old cars motor; your stomach churns when you are very hungry or seasick
clack: the sound made by chains, by your set of teeth when clacking together, by a deadbolt when opened, or by
sandals against floor tiles
clackers: human dentures.
clang: the bells of an alarm, something on metal, for instance the car chains; the sound of a lock in a metal door,
for instance in a cell; the sound of a metal gate when closed; the sound of coins when falling into the metal
jackpot trays in the machines; the sound of a streetcars bell
clank: metal with metal, for instance coins in the slot of a public telephone or a bunch or keys; an automatic
metal gate when closed; a metal stretcher
clap: a clap of thunder; your hands when you applause
clash: a military conflict
clatter: the sound made by silverware, a knife when falling onto the floor, your teeth, a teletype, wooden
sandals, a stretcher when rolling on the floor, by a chopper's rotors, by a typewriter, by a ball around a roulette
wheel, a garage door, steel instruments against a steel tray, a helicopter's blades, bones in a wired-bone
skeleton, your shoes on metal steps, a horse's hooves; the sound you make when going up/down the stairs
click and clatter: the falling hail.
click: the sound made by the cap of your ballpen when you close it, the keys of a computer keyboard, the
trigger of an unloaded weapon, your two sets of teeth or a door closing; the sound made for a pair of nazi
military heels, your tongue against your teeth; a portrait camera
click-click: the sound made by a pair of knitting needles
clickety-clack: the clickety-clack of a typewriter
clickety-click: the clickety-click sound of the castanets
clinic: your telephone against something else
clink: the sound you can hear when you make two glasses touch in a toast; the sound made by ice cubes in a
glass, knives and forks when having your luch, a glass against a bottle, coins on metal, water drops falling
onto a sink or a heavy electric gate (prison) when closing, a foot kicking a tool
clog: the sound made by a chanclo
cluck: the sound made by a hen
clung: the sound you make for instance when you throw a stone into a metallic bucket
clunk: the sound you make when you put a mug on a table; the sound of a metal gate when closed
coo: the sound of the pidgeons
cook-a-doodle-doo: a rooster
cough: when you've got a cold
crack: the sound you can hear when something breaks slightly, f e when you break the shell of an egg or a nut,
or when you fill a glass with hot water; the sound of a whip, a beer can, your knee joints, a gun going off (a
pistol shot) or a log breaking; the sound made by a falling tree, by your feet in the snow, by the joints of your
fingers, or by thunder in the the stormy sky (the cracking of thunder); the sound you hear when you turn the
page of an old book. He cracked his knuckles
crackle: when you walk on dead leaves; some paper or some logs burning; the sound made by old paper or a
car radio; the crackling codfish on a hot grate; the pages of a newspaper or a book when you turn them
crash: an accident; glass on the floor; when you walk on dead leaves; a crash of thunder; sea waves
creak: the hinges of a door; the mattress of your bed; a restaurant's sign in a windy day or night; a garage door,
a leather jacket; the stairs of an old house
crick: a cricket; insects in general
croak: a frog; when your voice is broken, for instance by emotion, and you try to speak anyway
crow: a crow caws os squawks
crunch (= to study hard): the sound made by snow, glass or gravel when walked over
crush: the sound you hear when you kill an insect with the palm of your hand or with your foot
cry: a monkey cries
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 Colegio Ntra. Seora del Carmen (La Baeza)

cuckoo!: the sound of a cuckoo

din: uproar, confusion
ding: the sound made by a bell
drawl: Texan, Deep South accent; when you speak lazily
drip: the sound of melting ice falling from a roof
drone: the sound of police radios, of a helicopter; the droning of planes
drum: a drum; your fingers on a table
flap: the sound made by a sail, a flag or a wing, by your slippers when you walk or by a long coat in the wind
flop-flop-flop: when you walk with your sandals on
flump!: the noise made by a lot of Italian bread when it falls onto the floor
flush: the sound made by the toilet
gag: the sound someone makes when seasick
gasp: the sound you make when almost crying or when you're so tired you hardly can breathe
goo-goo, ga-ga: a baby
groan: a sound you make when you're half asleep and can't speak yet; the sound you make when you have a
pain; a truck moving along the road
growl: a low, rumbling noise made, for instance, by an angry animal or an angry person
grr: the sound made by an angry dog
grumble: the sound you make when you protest with your mouth almost shut (refunfuar); the sound made by
an approaching car
grunt: a sound you make with your throat indicating, for instance, either yes (uh-uh) or no (un-un); a dog
making Grr!; a pig
guffaw: a very loud laugh
gulp: when you swallow something
gurgle: the first sound of your in-motion toilet (the other two being gush and overflow); the sound you make
when you keep some liquid in your throat while making bubbles; a baby can gurgle, too; the gurgle of a brook
gush: the sound made by the water falling from the faucet
hm: hm
ha: What you say when you hear something surprising, or when you mean No way
ha-ha: a peal of laughter
hammer: what your heart makes when you are frightened
hiccup/hiccough: the sound you make involuntarily when you've eaten too quickly
hip, hip, hurray!: a cry of joy
hiss: the sound made by an angry cat, a snake, a steam jet, frying food, fizz powder, escaping air, a snowfall
(the snow flakes falling), a flying bullet, the wind blowing through tree branches, a fire; to speak in a very low
tone
hmmm: The sound you make when you are considering something
holler: a new born baby
honk: when you blow your nose; a car's horn (see toot)
hoot: the sound made by an owl
hop: a small spring
howl: a new born baby; the wind; a (hurt) dog; when you laugh
hubub: the sound made by many people talking in a room
huff-huff: when you climb up a step way
huffing and puffing: you do it when you are very tired
huh: what you say when you mean No way
huh?: eh?
hum: the sound made by chattering people, a flying mosquito or a big fly, an electric motor, a refrigerator, a
plane, a car's automatic window (to hum up/down) or an automatic gate when opened/closed, or by a
computer when working; the sound you make when you sing a song with your mouth closed
hurrah: shouts of hurrah
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 Colegio Ntra. Seora del Carmen (La Baeza)

hush-hush: when you want to keep something secret you say hush-hush
jangle: the sound your spurs, your keys, a bell or a cowbell make
jingle: the sound of coins, keys, little bells or a cat's bell
klink: a key against another key
knock: when you hit a on door, or when you hit someone
lap: the sound you hear when a dog is drinking water
laugh: the sound you make when you've just heard a very good joke
lowing: the lowing of an ox
meow: your cat
mew(l): the sound made by your cat, by a baby
miaow: your cat
mmm / M-m-m: a sound you make when you're enjoying the food you're eating
moan: when you have a pain for instance in your belly
moo: a happy cow in a flashing meadow
mumble: the sound you make when you speak with your mouth almost shut
munch: a (noisy) chewing; the sheep munch grass
murmur: murmurar; the sound you make when you speak with your mouth almost shut
mutter: the sound you make when you speak with your mouth almost shut; a far thunder
neigh: a horse
oink: a happy pig
oo-lay oo-lay-oo: when you yodel
oompah oompah: an onomatopoeia of the sound made by the deep brass instruments as the band plays on
oops: when you stumble on someone or something
paf: the sound made by a fist when hitting on a face
pant: the sound you make when you are very tired and you try to breathe
paw: a shot
peal: the bells peal
peck: when a bird bites at something with its beak
peep: the sound of young birds
phew!: a whistle
pick-pick: a pick-pick is a knife!
ping: water drops falling from a faucet while you try desperately to fall sleep; the sonar in a submarine; a bell
plap-plap-plap: a punctured wheel in your moving car
plop: when you put some ice cubes into a glass; a frog into the water
pop and buzz: a weed-eater in a garden.
pop pop: a rifle shooting
pop: the flying cork from a cava bottle; when you open an attach case
pound: when your heart is very excited; the sound a judge's gavel makes when hit on his bench; the sound of a
chopper's rotors
psst: the sound you make when you want someone to listen to you, or when when you want to call someone;
the sound made by a water pistol
puff: when you ignite a cigar or your pipe and when you smoke it with delight (puff-puff; a puff of smoke);
sudden air from your mouth
punch: when you hit something or someone violently; when you work on a keyboard
purr: the sound you hear when nobody answers you on the telephone; the sound of a happy lion, a happy cat, a
refrigerator, the window of a car (up/down)
qwack: a merry duck in a pond
rap: when you speak; when you knock on a door with your knuckles; when a judge knocks with his gavel on
the bench
rataplan: the sound of the falling rain
rat-tat-tat: a machine-gun
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 Colegio Ntra. Seora del Carmen (La Baeza)

rattle: the sound made by a rosary, a train, a (door) chain, the rain, a train moving on the railway, some ice
cubes in a glass; the sound of a rattlesnake; the sound made by some paper leaves in your hands, your keys,
falling coins when you hit the jackpot, windows during an earthquake; the sound your teeth make when you
are sleeping; the rattle and roar of a train
ring: the sound of a telephone, a gunshot, a (door)bell, hoofs on the pavement, your boots on a metal floor or
ladder, laughter, a gong, a cough, metal on stone, a tommy gun, people applauding
rip: the sound you hear when you tear a paper sheet from a notebook
roar: the Roaring Twenties; the sound made by the wind blowing among the trees, a plane, an angry, hungry
lion, a vacuum cleaner, a truck/car engine, a motorcycle, a cloud of flame, a rain downpour, a big fire; the
rattle and roar of a train
roll: the sound of thunder
rumble: the low and continuous sound of a distant thunder; the sound made by a truck/car's engine, a slide of
rocks, a stampede of horses, the surf (rumble and slosh), or people speaking, the heating system in a building,
a garage door (up/down), a mechanised military division, an old refrigerator
rush: the sound made by water in a creek
rustle: the sound made by tree leaves in a breeze or by a fiddler crab; the rustling of leaves in the woods
Schweppes (TM): the sound the gas makes when you open a fizzy-drink bottle
scrap: the sound made by a chair
scrape: a chair on the floor
scratch: the sound you make when you've got something for instance on your hair and you want to take it
away; the sound your pen makes on a piece of paper
scream: a cry you or the merry birds make; the sound of a siren, an underground train, the tyres of a car
screech: a cry, a yell; the sound made by a baby, a bird, a speedy car's tyres round a corner (a cars brakes), a
cricket, a door or a hanger along the wardrobe metal bar
scritch: a rolling tape, for instance in a cassette-recorder
scrunch: the sound made by your boots when walking in the snow, a car's tyres on gravel
shatter: the sound of a glass when breaking
shhh: when you want someone to keep quiet
shoo (away): you say it when you don't want your pet around
shriek: the crickets in summertime
shriek: the sound your car's wheels make on the pavement
shush: the sound you make when you want somebody to stop talking, crying
sigh: the sound you make when you're in love
sizzle: the tasty sound made by the steaks on the grill; when the eggs hit the hot oil
slam: an explosion, a door, a car's hood, a book onto a table
slap: the sound you make with the palm of your hand on somebody else's cheek, face (to slap someone across
the face), shoulder or back, or on a desk; the sound made by your feet or your sandals when walking on the
pavement, or by sandals against floor tiles
slosh: the sound made by the surf (rumble and slosh) or by trainers when walking in the rain.
slurp: the sound you (don't want to) make -in a rather ill-mannered way- when you drink something fizzy; the
sound your dog makes when drinking something
smack: the sound you make with your lips when tasting good food, when you kiss someone, when you make
noise with your chewing-gum bubbles, when you make your hand hit, for instance, another hand or a
newspaper; the sound made by a helicopter when touching down, by a ruler or a gavel on a table, bullets into a
wall, or by heavy rain drops falling on dead leaves
smash: you can use this word when you refer to an accident, a collision, a violent impact; the sound of a gavel
on a judge's bench, your fist against your car's windshield
snap: the sound made by a whip, adog at a flying fly, a banjo string, your two sets of teeth, a breaking bone,
twigs when stepped on or a briefcase when opened; the sound you make when you take a photo or when you
use your two fingers to call a waiter
snarl: the sound an angry dog makes before barking and biting
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 Colegio Ntra. Seora del Carmen (La Baeza)

sneeze: the sound your nose makes when you have a cold
snick: the sound made by a switchblade when opening
snicker = snigger: a kind of very soft laugh
snick-snick: the sound made by a video-game weapon
sniff: the sound your dog makes when looking/sniffing for something
snore: the sound that someone makes while sleeping
snort: the sound made by a horse
sob: a sound you make when you're very sad and (almost) crying
spatter: the sound made by hard rain falling
splash: when you get into the water in a noisy way, or when you wash your face
squash: when you put an orange in your hands and you squeeze it or when you walk on a bug
squawk: the sound from a car radio
squeak: a short cry; the sound made by a leather seat, a bicycle pump, by your shoes when you walk on the
snow, by the rubber soles of your shoes when walking on wet tiles; the sound made by unoiled hinges, by
mice
squeal: a scream; a cry of delight; an electronic alarm in a house; the sound your car's tyres make on the road
when accelerating; the sound made by an (angry) pig or a rat, a bedspring, a siren
squeegee: the squeegee sound of a pair of boots
squeeze: when you hold someone in your arms or something in your hand(s) in a rather painfully way
squish: the sound you make when you walk with your gum-soled shoes/soaked athletic shoes on
sqwack: a seagull
ssshh!: be quiet!
stamp: the sound you make with your feet on the floor when you're angry
stomp: what you make with your wet feet when entering your house or when it's very cold
susurration: it is the sound made by the rain falling down
swish: the sound made by a dog's tail when it's happy; the sound of a peumatic door; the swish of a curtain
stirred by the breeze
swoosh: a helicopters blades
tap: the sound made when you knock gently on a door; or when someone touches your shoulder in order to
greet you; or when you make two glasses touch in a toast, or when you type something; the sound made by a
rain drop falling onto the ground or by your finger against your cigarette
thrum: the sound made by a helicopter's blades, or by the wind against a windowpane
thud: the beating of your heart; the sound made by a helicopter's blades
thump: as shoot; the sound your heart makes when you see/hear a ghost; a knock on a door; the wipers of your
car's windshield; something falling over upstairs; the wheels of a car when over the cracks in a road, an ax on
wood
thunk: to put something heavy on a table; the sound made by a lock or a bullet into a matress
thwop: to put someone on their back
tick: the sound your watch/a clock makes when it works; the rain when falling on a car's roof; the paws of your
dog when walking
tick-tickety-tick: the sound you can hear when your fingers are working at a computer's keyboard
tinkle: the sound you hear when you hang up the telephone; the sound made by a crystal chandelier, by a
jesters bells; the tinkle of breaking glass
toll: a bell
toot: the sound you make with your car's horn when there's someone in front of you and you want to move on
(see honk); a train horn
tsk, tsk, tsk: sound you make with your mouth when you dont agree with something
twang: when a cable snaps
ugh: a sound of disgust
uh: what you say when doubting about something
uhhh: the sound you make when you doubt about something
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 Colegio Ntra. Seora del Carmen (La Baeza)

uh-huh: when you mean yes

ululation: the ululation of a police siren
um: hm
um: when you mean er
ummm: when you are thinking about something carefully
wah, wah, wah!: to mock-cry
wail: the sound made by a baby, a coyote or a police/ambulance siren
wash: the sound made by the surf when rushing to shore
wham: your heart when you are nervous or excited
whap: a helicopter's blades
wheez: the sound made by a chopper's rotors
whelp: the sound made by police sirens
whimper: a moan, a groan of pain
whine: a sad or unpleasant noise; a complaint; a bullet when ricocheting; a (table) saw; the sound of a car
engine
whinn(e)y: the sound made by a horse
whir: the whir of a minicam motor, of mechanical flashes
whirr: the cicadas when theyre happy; a projector, a fan
whisper: the sound you make when you can't speak aloud
whistle: the sound you make when you sing a song with your mouth; a kettle whistles
whizz: when you hear a car, a motorbike or someone passing by at full speed; a bullet over your hezd
whooooeeee!: a yell of happiness
whoosh: the sound made by a firework in its way up, a deflagration, or something/someone passing by you very
fast
woof: a dog, a bear
wow!: means happiness, excitenment
Yabba-dabba-doo!: do you remember the Flintstones?
yap: a dog; when you speak or protest loudly
yawn: the sound you ('d better not) make both when your teacher has been lecturing you for one hour in the
classroom, and when your are sleepy
yawp: a parrot yawps
yell: a cry; the karate yells
yippee!: means happiness, excitenment
yoohoo: when you want somebody to see you
yowl: sound made by a cat
yum!: the sound you make when youre enjoying your meal
z/zz/zzz: when you are fast asleep
zip/unzip: when you fasten/loose your trousers using its zipper
zoom (by): what a sports car makes when passing by at full speed