How Different Languages "Hear" the Same Sounds — A Fun Look at Onomatopoeia in English, French & Portuguese (and a bit in Russian 😊)

In English, we say "Achoo!" (personally, for me it’s an enormous Atishoo😊)
In French, it becomes "Atchoum!"
And in Portuguese, it's "Atchim!"

And in Russian? Чихун More difficult, isn’t it? But apparently it sounds like Chikhun. It must be complicated to have a cold in Russia!

The sneeze itself hasn't changed; it’s the same noise whatever your nationality. It’s the way we write or represent that sound varies according to the language. This is what is called onomatopoeia: words that imitate real-life sounds.

As an English teacher with many students learning multiple languages, I thought it would be fun (and surprisingly educational) to explore how sounds are "spelled" across English, French, and Portuguese. From barking dogs to laughing babies.

🤧 SNEEZE

This happens when you have a cold! (as we discovered a bit earlier)

• English : Achoo / Atishoo

• French : Atchoum

• Portuguese : Atchim

🤕 REACTION TO PAIN

When you hurt yourself it’s a reflex to make these sounds. Funnily enough when I’m in France and I say aie and in England I say ouch (My pain is bilingual 😊)

• English : Ow ! /Ouch !

• French : Aie !

• Portuguese : Ai !

🐶 DOG BARK

Dogs! An Englishman’s best friend 😊, 50 % of French families, but every Brazilian household has one or even two! In Brazil generally they’re in the front yard and the whole street barks as you walk down it! In England they’re more discreet. It’s a cultural thing!

• English : Woof woof

• French : Ouaf ouaf

• Portuguese : Au au

🐓 ROOSTER or COCKEREL CROW

We say rooster in the US and cock or cockerel in UK. Personally, I really hear cock-a doodle- doo when a cock crows. I can’t imagine how it can be transformed into cocorico😄

• English : Cock-a-doodle-doo

• French : Cocorico

• Portuguese : Cocorocó

🦆 DUCK QUACK

Ducks quack to show their emotions but when they all do it together it’s to attract humans to bring them food 😊Hungry birds!

• English : Quack Quack

• French : Coin Coin

• Portuguese : Quà Quà

🐸 FROG CROAK

Frogs! The French eat their legs (and very good they are too😋) Male frogs also sing, they don’t just croak. They sing to communicate and to attract the females. They are night owls (not literally obviously🦉) and sometimes sing so loudly that they keep you awake! I’m speaking from experience here (my mother’s neighbour has a pond 🥱)

• English : Ribbit

• French : Croa croa

• Portuguese : Croac

🐦 BIRD CHIRP

For me this is the strangest one🤪. From tweet tweet to cui-cui to pui-pui

• English : Tweet tweet

• French : Cui-cui

• Portuguese : Piu-piu

👶 BABY CRY

It’s true that babies have a rich repertoire of cries to express their needs and emotions. These below are amongst the loudest 😄

• English : Wah wah

• French : Ouin ouin

• Portuguese : Buááá

🚗 CAR HORN

My favourite here is the French pouet pouet, although I’ve never heard a car make that noise 😊C’est mignon. It’s cute. Que fofo!

• English : Honk (older models) / beep beep (modern cars)

• French : Pouet pouet

• Portuguese : Bibi

💨 FART (Yes, kids love this one !)

• English : Pffft

• French : Prout

• Portuguese : Pum

😂 LAUGHTER

And to conclude we have laughter. Now the words aren’t so different in the three languages, but I wanted to include this one because of the interesting fact that in Brazilian Portuguese kkk or rsrs (from the word risadas- laughter) are often used as an abbreviation for laughter. Like lol in English. If they put Rsrsrsrs it’s extra funny 🤣

• English : Haha / Hehe

• French : Hahaha / Héhé

• Portuguese : Haha / Hehe

There are many more of these sound words. I hope you enjoyed this selection😊 Bye bye! Tchau! Au revoir!