With an expansive lexicon at your disposal, there are elaborate synonyms for any circumstance, whether you’re in need of some amusement and jocularity, or you’re feeling despondent and woebegone after bad news. But when multisyllabic words are too much, onomatopoeias say everything we need. An onomatopoeia is a word that forms due to the sound associated with it, such as the “buzzing” of a bee, a “clap” of thunder, or the “jingle” of bells. There are hundreds of onomatopoeic words to choose from, so to narrow it down, here are some of the best options for different situations.
Onomatopoeias for Something Funny
Cackle
This is a loud, harsh laughter reserved for when something is bust-a-gut funny. It also describes the loud clucking of a hen, which plays into its association with a screech-like laughter. It’s partly imitative, from the Middle Low German kākelen, which includes the word for “jaw or cheek,” kāke.
Giggle
This type of laugh might be a bit nervous, such as laughing during an awkward situation. It can also be short, light, or silly — think of a child’s giggle. This onomatopoeia has been around since the early 16th century.
Guffaw
We have the Scots to thank for “guffaw,” a fun word for “boisterous laughter.” This imitative word from the 18th century simulates the sound of coarse laughter. Goofy, Mickey Mouse’s friend, has a laugh often described as a guffaw.
Onomatopoeias for Chowing Down
Munch
“Munch” is the perfect word for enjoying popcorn — it describes eating something audibly. It first appeared in late Middle English as an imitative word, spelled “mocchen.” It also might have been influenced by the Old French mangier, meaning “to eat, bite.”
Glug
Feeling thirsty? You might glug down your drink. This onomatopoeia works as a word for drinking with a gurgling sound. It first described swallowing during the late 17th century, but in Middle English, the similar-sounding word “glub” meant “to swallow greedily.”
Crunch
“Crunch” — the perfect word to describe the sound made when biting into a crisp potato chip. This common onomatopoeia began as “cranch” during the 17th century, which was also imitative. By its earliest definition, it aptly means “to crush with teeth.”
Belch
It’s the unavoidable result of glugging or munching too quickly: the belch. Describing the act of noisily emitting gas through the mouth, “belch” has been around for centuries. It likely came from the Old English word belcettan, also of imitative origin.
Onomatopoeias for Something Irksome
Aargh
According to the Oxford Dictionary, this is the correct spelling for the onomatopoetic exclamation that’s appropriate in a plethora of infuriating situations, from stubbing your toe to hitting traffic — ”aargh!” It originated in the 18th century as a lengthened form of the similar word “ah.”
Tsk tsk
To express disapproval in addition to annoyance, a simple “tsk tsk” will do. It can also be used as a verb, as in, “The teacher tsk-tsked the students' unruly behavior.” This is one of the newest onomatopeias on the list, originating in the 1940s.
Ahem
Meant to simulate clearing your throat, this is used jokingly (or possibly seriously) to get someone’s attention — ”Ahem, excuse me.” It can also be used to express disapproval, as in, “I would, ahem, beg to differ.” (However, the tone here can come across as pedantic or passive aggressive, so choose your onomatopoeias carefully.) “Ahem” first appeared in the 17th century as a lengthened form of the similar-sounding word “hem,” of a similar meaning, but the intent was a bit more hesitant.
Onomatopoeias for Keeping It Down
Whisper
“Whisper” is defined by speaking softly, without the use of vocal cords. It comes from the Old English hwisprian, from the imitative root kwei-, meaning “to hiss, whistle.” Now, “whisper” isn’t purely imitative; as a verb or a noun, it can describe a soft rustling, a slight trace, or even a rumor or gossip.
Shush
“Shhh” — the ultimate way to quickly and quietly tell someone to be quiet. “Shush” is an imitative version of “shhh,” and both words are used the same way. You can use “shush” as an exclamation directly to someone to quiet them down, as in, “Shush! Stop talking!” It also can be used as a noun or verb, as in, “The rowdy audience was quieted with shushes,” or, “The teacher shushed her students.” A relatively new word, “shush” first appeared in the 1920s.
Mutter
Saying something under your breath? This is called muttering. It came from the late Middle English word “moteren” of the same meaning, and the root word “mut-,” meaning “to grunt.”
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