Animal sounds are some of the earliest words we learn, and they vary fascinatingly from one language to another.
While a dog may say “woof” in English, it barks “wan-wan” in Japanese. These sounds are examples of onomatopoeia—words that imitate natural sounds.
In this article, explore 70 animal sounds from different languages, including their spellings, pronunciation, and usage in a sentence.
🐾 Animal Sounds Around the World
- English – Dog: Woof woof (woof woof)
The dog goes woof when it sees strangers. - Spanish – Dog: Guau guau (gwow gwow)
El perro dice guau guau. - French – Dog: Ouaf ouaf (wahf wahf)
Le chien fait ouaf ouaf. - German – Dog: Wau wau (vow vow)
Der Hund macht wau wau. - Italian – Dog: Bau bau (bow bow)
Il cane fa bau bau. - Japanese – Dog: ワンワン (wan-wan)
犬はワンワンと鳴く。 - Korean – Dog: 멍멍 (meong-meong)
개가 멍멍 짖어요. - Russian – Dog: Гав-гав (gav-gav)
Собака говорит гав-гав. - Arabic – Dog: هو هو (haw haw)
الكلب يقول هو هو. - Hindi – Dog: भौं भौं (bhaun bhaun)
कुत्ता भौं भौं करता है। - English – Cat: Meow (me-ow)
- Spanish – Cat: Miau (mee-ow)
- French – Cat: Miaou (me-ah-oo)
- German – Cat: Miau (mee-ow)
- Italian – Cat: Miao (mee-ow)
- Japanese – ニャー (nyaa)
- Korean – 야옹 (ya-ong)
- Russian – Мяу (myau)
- Arabic – مياو (miyaw)
- Hebrew – מיאו (me-ow)
- English – Cow: Moo
- Spanish – Muuu
- French – Meuh (muh)
- German – Muh
- Italian – Muuu
- Japanese – モー (mō)
- Korean – 음매 (eum-mae)
- Russian – Му (moo)
- Greek – Μου (moo)
- Dutch – Boe
- English – Duck: Quack
- Spanish – Cua cua
- French – Coin coin (kwan kwan)
- German – Quak
- Italian – Qua qua
- Japanese – ガーガー (gaa gaa)
- Korean – 꽥꽥 (kkwaek-kkwaek)
- Russian – Кря-кря (krya-krya)
- Finnish – Kvaak kvaak
- Norwegian – Kvakk
- English – Rooster: Cock-a-doodle-doo
- Spanish – Kikirikí
- French – Cocorico
- German – Kikeriki
- Italian – Chicchirichì
- Japanese – コケコッコー (kokekokkō)
- Korean – 꼬끼오 (kkokkio)
- Russian – Ку-ка-ре-ку (koo-ka-re-koo)
- Greek – Κικιρικί (kikiriki)
- Turkish – Ü-ürü-üüü
- English – Pig: Oink oink
- Spanish – Oinc oinc
- French – Groin groin
- German – Grunz
- Italian – Oink oink
- Japanese – ブーブー (bū bū)
- Korean – 꿀꿀 (kkul-kkul)
- Russian – Хрю-хрю (khryu-khryu)
- Vietnamese – Ụt ịt
- Thai – อู๊ด อู๊ด (ood ood)
- English – Sheep: Baa baa
- Spanish – Bee bee
- French – Bêê
- German – Mäh
- Italian – Bee bee
- Japanese – メーメー (mē mē)
- Korean – 음메 (eum-me)
- Russian – Бе-бе (beh-beh)
- Swahili – Mee mee
- Polish – Bee bee
🐾 Final Thought
From meow to wan-wan to kokekokkō, animal sounds show us just how creatively each culture interprets the natural world. These playful and expressive onomatopoeias remind us that while languages differ, our love for animals and the sounds they make is shared globally.
“Animal sounds may not be human language, but they help us connect across cultures, one ‘moo’ at a time.”
