A list of English onomatopoeias! They're interesting compared to Japanese

"It's raining heavily" or "My desk is sparkling clean" - words that describe sounds or the state of things are called "onomatopoeia" and are used frequently in our daily lives. In English, they are called onomatopoeia, and there are as many as in Japanese.

This article lists such onomatopoeias. It details what Japanese onomatopoeias are called in English, and what English onomatopoeias are called in Japanese.

What are onomatopoeias?

Onomatopoeia is a general term for onomatopoeic and mimetic words. In English, they are written as onomatopoeia and pronounced as onomatopoeia.

Words that imitate sounds, such as "gone" and "zaza," are called onomatopoeia. Words that express the state of a person or thing with sounds, such as "pekopeko" and "kurukuru," are called mimetic words. Onomatopoeia is a collective term for both.

Just as there are many onomatopoeias in Japanese, there are also many in English. For example, the onomatopoeia for a sneeze is achoo. It is the same as "hakushon" in Japanese.

Here, we will introduce various English onomatopoeias. We will also introduce how to say Japanese onomatopoeias in English.

List of English onomatopoeias (English → Japanese)
So, first, we would like to introduce English onomatopoeias. They are listed in alphabetical order, so please take a look at them.

achoo: sneezing (hakushon)
ahem: clearing one's throat (gohon, ahem)
arf: barking dog (wan, can)
argh: sound expressing surprise, pain, anger, etc. (ahh)

baa: bleating sheep (meh)
bam: impact sound (gan, Dosun)
bang: hitting sound, gunfire sound (bang)
barf: vomiting (gero gero)
bark: barking dog, gunshot (wan, bang)
bawl: loud yelling, crying, screaming
beep: horn, buzzer, etc. (bee)
bloop: noise from communication equipment, undersea sound
boo: sound made to express criticism, opposition (booing)
boom: explosion sound (Do-n, Doka-n)
bow-wow: barking dog (wan wan)
bray: braying donkey, harsh sound
brrr: sound expressing cold (buru-buru)
bump: A striking sound, a crashing sound (Don, Doshin)
burp: The sound of a burp
buzz: The low sound of a bee, a machine, etc. (buzz buzz), a buzzer ringing (boo)

cackle: The sound of a hen crowing (Kuwa-kuwa), a laughing sound (Kya-kya)
chatter: Talking without stopping (Pecha-kucha, Pera-pera)
cheep: The sound of a baby bird (Pi-pi, Pera-pera)
chirp: The high-pitched sounds of birds and insects (chi-chi-chi, Chun-chun)
chomp: The way of eating with one's mouth full (musha-musha)
chortle: The way of laughing loudly
clang: The sound of metal being struck (Ka-n, Kachin)
clank: The sound of chains, metal, etc. striking each other (Charin, Gacha-gacha)
clap: The sound of clapping hands (Pan)
clatter: The sound of plates and other hard objects hitting each other (Gacha-gacha)
click: A hard, short sound (Kachi, Kotsun, Pachi)
clink: The sound of glass or metal touching (Kachin, Chirin)
cluck: The short cry of a hen (Ko-ko)
cock-a-doodle-doo: The sound of a rooster (Koke-ko-ko-)
crackle: The sound of a fire or something (Pachi-pachi)
crash: The sound of something breaking or falling (Gachan, Doshin, gara-gara)
creak: The creaking sound of a door or floor (Ki-ki)
crinkle: The sound of paper or dry things (Kasa-kasa)
crunch: The sound of something being chewed (Bari-bari, Bori-bori)
cuckoo: The cry of a cuckoo

ding: The sound of a bell ringing (ga-n)
ding-dong: The sound of a bell ringing (Garan-garan)
dribble: The way water drips or drool drips (Pota-pota, Tara-tara)
drip: The sound of dripping or spilling (Pota-pota)
drizzle: The sound of light rain or drizzle (shito-shito)

eek: The sound made when surprised or seeing something disgusting (waa, kyaa)
fizz: The sound of soda bubbles (shu, pushu)
flap: The sound of a flag fluttering (Pata-pata), the sound of hitting something flat (Pisha)
flutter: The sound of wings flapping (Pata-pata), leaves falling (HIra-hira)

gargle: A gargling or hoarse voice (Gara-gara)
gasp: To gasp or take a breath (hah)
giggle: A quiet laugh (Kusu-kusu)
gobble: The sound of a turkey crowing or devouring (Gatsu-gatsu)
groan: A groan or complaining (Bu-bu)
growl: Growl, roar, thunder(Gami-gami, Goro-goro)
grrr: Growl, dog's growl(U-, Garururu)
grunt: Low groan of a pig, complaint(Bu-bu)
gulp: Eating or drinking quickly, as if swallowing(Gatsu-gatsu, Gabu-gabu)
gurgle: Sound of running water, throat clearing(Gobo-gobo, Doku-doku)

haha: Laughter(Haha, Ahahaha)
harrumph: Accusatory throat clearing(Fun, Ohon)
hee-hee: Sneer, high-pitched laughter(Hi-hi-hi)
hiccup: Hiccup
hiss: Sound of a snake, steam, kettle(Syu-), scolding to be quiet(Shi-)
honk: Horn, wild goose
hoot: Sound of an owl(ho-ho)
howl: Howl, roar
hum: buzzing, humming
hurrah: joy, cheering (Hure-fure-)
hush: silencing (Shi)

jangle: jingling of keys (Jyara-jyara)
jingle: jingling of bells (Chirin-chirin)
knock: knocking on a door (Konkon, Tonton)
lala: singing (lalala)

meow: meowing of a cat (Nya-o)
moan: moaning, complaining, grumbling (Guchi-guchi, Butsu-butsu)
moo: mooing of a cow (moo)
mumble: speaking in a murmuring manner (Boso-boso, Mogo-mogo)
munch: eating (Musya-musha, Mogu-mogu)
murmur: whispering, rustling

neigh: neighing of a horse (Hi-hi--n)
oink: groaning of a pig (Buhi-buhi)
plop: The sound of something falling, splashing on the surface of water (pochan, Dobun, Dosa, picha)
poof: The way something disappears suddenly (Pa)
pop: The sound of something popping, or escaping (pon, pan)
pow: The sound of something hitting something (Bashi, ban, Pokan, Doka)
psst: The sound made to attract someone's attention (Anone)
purr: The sound of a cat purring (goro-goro)
quack: The sound of a duck crowing (Ga-ga-), talking nonsense (Pecha--kucha)
rattle: The sound of a continuous banging, or shaking (gatagata, kotokoto, katakata, garagara)

ribbit: The sound of a frog croaking (gero, gwaa)
ring-ring The sound of a telephone (ring-ring)
roar: The roar, roar, or roar of a lion or other animal
rumble: The sound of a machine or car (gorogoro, garagara), or the sound of a stomach rumbling (googoo)
rustle: The sound of paper or leaves rubbing against each other, the sound of shaking (Kasa-kasa, Sara-sara)

5)

screech: A shriek, the sound of braking suddenly (Ki-)
shh: When telling someone to be quiet (Shi---)
shush: The sound made to shut someone up (Shi)
sizzle: The sound of food being cooked (Jyu-jyu-)
slam: The sound of something closing hard (Patan)
slap: A slap (Pisyari)
smack: To hit someone as punishment (Pisyari)
smash: To crush, to crash
snap: The sound of something breaking (Pokin), the sound of something snapping (Putsun), the sound of fingers snapping (Pachin)
splash: The sound of water
splashing, splashing (Bisha, Bicha, Zabun, Basyan)
splat: The sound of something wet being slammed down (Pisya, Pecha)
spray: To spray (Syu)
sprinkle: To scatter, to scatter (Saa)
squeal: scream, long high-pitched sound (kee)
squish: to crush, squeeze (gusha), walking noisily (bishabisha)
swash: splashing of water (Basha-basha)
swish: sound of cutting through the wind (Hyu, Syu)
swoosh: fast movement of something (Syu-, Da--, Byu--)

thud: falling of something heavy (Dosun, Doshin, Dosa)
thump: sound of hitting something with a fist or blunt object (Gotsun)
tick: tock sound of a clock (Kachi-kachi)
tsk: clicking of the tongue (che)

vroom: sound of a car engine (broon)
waft: floating slowly, drifting (Fuwari, fuwa-fuwa)
whiff: faint scent (Pun)
whimper: crying as if sniffling (shiku-shiku, meso-meso)
whisper: whispering, whispering in one's ear
whiz: To move quickly, to tidy up (Hyu-, Saa)

zap: to hit (smack), to heat in a microwave (chin)
zoom: a sudden, fast movement (Byu-n, Bu-n)
zzz: the sound of snoring (Gu-gu-)

List of Japanese onomatopoeia (Japanese to English)

There are many onomatopoeias in Japanese, and many of them cannot be expressed in English. Here we have compiled a list of how to say and explain Japanese onomatopoeias in English. Please review the various options.

Ata-futa: in a hurry
Achi-kochi: here and there
Ira-ira: irritated
Uji-uji: hesitant
Kasa-kasa: dried up

Gata-gata: rattle, clatter
Gacha-gacha: clatter, rattle
Gatsu-gatsu: eat greedily, devour
Gatthi-ri: firmly
Gabu-gabu: gulp
Gabo-gabo: loose

Kara-kara: very thirsty
karu-garu: lightly
Gan-gan: ding-dong, clang
Gishi-gishi: creak
Gyu-gyu: squeeze into
kira-kira: glimmer, twinkle
Gira-gira: dazzle
Gu-gu-: snore
Gu-gu-: growl
Kuta-kuta: exhausted
kucha-kucha: champ, munch
Gutsu-gutsu: simmer
Gussuri: sleep soundly
kura-kura: dizzy
Gura-gura: unsteady
Guru-guru: wind around
Guru-guru: spin round
Kun-kun: sniff at
Kera-kera: cackle
Gera-gera: guffaw
Goshi-goshi: rub hard
Koso-koso: sneak
Gobo-gobo: gurgle

Saku-saku: crispy
Zara-zara: rough, sandy
Jime-jime: damp, sodden
Shiari-Shari: frosty
Jyu-jyu: sizzle
Jiro-jiro: stare at
Jiwa-jiwa: slowly

Sube-sube: smooth
Sururi: slip
Chika-chika: glitter, flicker
Chiku-chiku: prick
Chigu-hagu: odd
Chikuri: prick
Chibi-chibi: sip
Chiya-hoya: make much of
Charin: clang, clank
Choro-choro: trickle

Tsuya-tsuya: glossy, sleek
Doka-doka: rush in
Doshi-doshi: freely
Dobun: plop
Don: crack, bump, bang
Ton-ton: knock, tap, rap

Niya-niya: simper
Nuru-nuru: slip muddy, slippery
Neba-neba: sticky
Noro-noro: tardy

Ha-ha-: out of breath
Haki-haki: briskly
Paku-paku: open one's month repeatedly
Basa-basa: flutter
Pacha-pacha: splash
Patto: suddenly
Para-para: patter
Parapara: riffle

Bari-bari: crunch
Bari-bari: tear up
Biku-biku: nervous, timid

Hiso-hiso: in whispers
Bisshori: soaking wet
Byun-byun: zip, whiz
Pyon-pyon: skip, hop
Hira-hira: flutter
Biri-biri: rip up
Bu-n: buzz, boom, zoom
Buka-buka: baggy
Buku-buku: bubble
Busuri: thrust

Fukkura: puffy, soft
Butu-butu: complain
Buyo-buyo: soft swollen
Bura-bura: stroll
Burabura: dangle
Fuwa-fuwa: float
Peko-peko: terrifully hungry, starving
Beta-beta: sticky
Beron-beron: dead drunk

Hoka-hoka: warm
Pokan: vacantly
Pokin: with a snap
Bosa-bosa: shaggy
Boso-boso: whisper, murmur
Bota-bota: drip
Bori-bori: munch, crunch
Boro-boro: worn out

Mago-mago: flurried
Musya-musya: munch
Muzu-muzu: itchy
Mecha-kucha: in disorder
Mera-mera: flare up
Mogu-mogu: chewing constantly
Moji-moji: fidget

Yura-yura: sway, swing
Yochi-yochi: toddle
Yoro-yoro: stagger

Summary:
Here is a list of various English onomatopoeias. Some of the sounds are similar to Japanese sounds, while others, such as animal sounds, make you wonder how they sound in English-speaking countries. Learning about these differences is one of the joys of studying a language, isn't it?

A list of English onomatopoeias! They're interesting compared to Japanese.

https://toraiz.jp/english-times/book/8910/

Thinking about Japanese with English | Part 3: The Mysterious World of Onomatopoeia

https://www.hituzi.co.jp/hituzigusa/2023/04/13/thinkjapanese-03/