An onomatopoeia is a word that is derived from the actual sound it makes, such as “buzz,” “bang,” or “chirp” — think of sound effects and animal noises. The onomatopoeic words below consist of only a few letters, but they are some of the most commonly used interjections and expressions in the English language. From the “shh” of a quiet library to the “grrr” of a grumbling complaint, these words are small but mighty — with only a few instantly recognizable letters, they can convey a full picture of what’s happening.
Zzz
We know that “catching some z’s” refers to sleeping, but why not “p’s” or “g’s”? This idiom stems from the onomatopoeic word “zzz,” which has been used to represent sleeping for over 100 years.
Henry David Thoreau likely coined the usage of “z” as an onomatopoeia, but he was talking about the sounds of locusts in 1884, not snoring. The earliest instance of using “zzz” to represent sleep was likely in a 1903 comic by Rudolph Dirks, which features a man sleeping in a hammock with “z’s” written all around him, likely depicting the sounds of snores. By 1918, the American Dialect Society made the term official, stating that “z-z-z” was the sound of buzzing or snoring.
Psst
“Psst — over here!” This interjection is used to discreetly gain someone's attention. It was first recorded in the late 19th century, but it was already of imitative form (onomatopoeic), meaning that it was a sound people were making long before it was added to the dictionary.
Brrr
This word is derived from the sound people make when they’re cold or shivering, as in, “Brrr, it’s chilly in here!” It first appeared in written records at the end of the 19th century, but just decades ago, it didn’t exclusively refer to shivering from the cold. It could also mean shivering from being scared, as seen in the 1959 horror book “Br-r-r-!” — an anthology of “tales to chill you to the bone.”
Shh
“Shh” is the sound we make when calling for silence. The onomatopoeia is listed in the dictionary as a mid-19th-century variant of “hush,” from the Middle English word “huisht.” Some linguists believe that this sound/word evolved naturally to mean “quiet” because it requires very little muscular effort to say, and it emits very little sound — perfect for a situation where silence is needed.
Oof
This exclamation can be used to express any type of discomfort (either your own or someone else’s), as in, “Oof, that conversation was awkward!” It’s an onomatopoeic word that describes the sound we make when physically injured, but it’s not limited only to physical discomfort. It’s likely been around for centuries as a natural sound made when the body is pressed, but the word was first recorded in the late 18th century. This term has experienced a resurgence in recent years and has become part of the social media and texting lexicon. You might see variations of “oof” written in comments under a cringeworthy post.
Um
This common filler word has been the downfall of many a public speaker. Although it’s been shunned in English and speech classrooms, “um” remains as popular as it has been for centuries. It’s an onomatopoeic word that describes the sound we make during hesitation or doubt, and it evolved from a natural utterance. If someone asks you a question and you don’t know the answer, there’s a good chance that your first response is, “Um…” This word was first recorded in English in the late 17th century and reached peak popularity in the 1990s. Could its increased popularity have been due to the rise of kitschy films like Clueless? Um… maybe!
Aahh
“Say aahh…” When a doctor examines your tonsils, this is the first thing they will ask you to do. Why not simply say, “Open your mouth”? The “aahh” sound is no coincidence. Apparently, the position of your mouth when you say “aahh” gives the doctor a good viewing angle of many important things: It widens your lips, lowers your tongue, drops your jaw, and opens your throat, all at the same time. The sound has now become an onomatopoeic word associated with doctor visits, but the exact origination is unknown.
Grrr
“Grrr” expresses anger or annoyance and was unsurprisingly derived from the sound of an animal’s growl. It was first recorded in the mid-19th century, and it soon became a big hit in comic strips — everyone from the Hulk to Snoopy was “grrr-ing.” Today, it’s also used as an interjection, as in, “Grrr! This isn’t fair!”
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