Spanish Onomatopoeia

Guau, miau, tic-tac, ring ring. How sounds are written differently in Spanish.

Animal sounds

AnimalEnglishSpanish
DogWoof woofGuau guau
CatMeowMiau
RoosterCock-a-doodle-dooQuiquiriquí
CowMooMuuu
PigOink oinkOink oink / Oinc oinc
DuckQuackCuac cuac
FrogRibbitCroac croac
BirdTweetPío pío
BeeBuzzBzzz
SnakeHissSsss

Human sounds

SoundEnglishSpanish
LaughingHahahaJajaja
CryingBoo-hooBuaaa
SneezingAchoo¡Achís!
EatingYum yumÑam ñam
Sleeping/snoringZzzZzz / Ronc ronc
KissingMwahMuac
Shh (be quiet)Shhh¡Chist! / ¡Shh!

Object and action sounds

SoundEnglishSpanish
Knock knockKnock knockToc toc
PhoneRing ringRing ring / Riiin
ClockTick tockTic tac
ExplosionBoom / Bang¡Bum! / ¡Pum!
SplashSplash¡Splash! / ¡Chof!
CrashCrash / Bang¡Cataplum! / ¡Plaf!
DrippingDrip dripGoteo / Plic plic

Onomatopoeia as verbs

Many onomatopoeic words become verbs in Spanish

maullar = to meow (from miau) | ladrar = to bark (from guau)
ronronear = to purr | cacarear = to cluck
zumbar = to buzz | croar = to croak
chasquear = to click/snap | crujir = to creak/crunch

Quick quiz

1. Dog sound in Spanish = _____.

2. Rooster = _____.

3. Laughing in Spanish text = _____.

4. Yum yum = _____.

5. Knock knock = _____.

6. Boom / explosion = _____.

7. Achoo! (sneeze) = _____.

8. To bark (verb) = _____.

9. To purr = _____.

10. Be quiet! = ¡_____!

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