Verbs to describe the sound animals make

MarHaba y’all, I’m going to provide a few verbs to describe the sounds of 4 animals in Levantine Arabic.

What are they?

They are the Dogs, the Cats, the Birds and the Roosters.

So..let’s get started!

DOGS

Dogs bark and there are two verbs that you can use.

The first is…

عوَى – بعوَي

Verb II

3awa – bi3awi

The second is…

نبح – بنبح

Verb I

nabaH –  binbaH

Example:

The boy was afraid to walk ahead because the dog was barking

الولد كان خايف يمشي لقدام لانو الكلب كان عم يعوَي \ ينبح

elwalad kan khayif yimshee la 2odam la inu elkalb kan 3am y3awi/ yinbaH

CATS

Cats purr or meow and you can use this verb to describe them:

نوَى – بنوَي

Verb II

nawa – binawi

Example:

The cat is meowing because it is hungry

القطة \ البسة عم تنوَي لانها جوعانة

el2iTah/ elbisseh 3am tnawi la enha ju3aneh

*Jordanians/Palestinians use بسة to refer to cat more often than قطة

BIRDS

Birds chirp and the verb is…

زقزق – بزقزق

Verb II

za2-za2 – bi-za2-ze2

The chirping sound is called

زقزقة

za2-za-2ah

Examples:

-I can hear the birds chirping every morning

بقدر اسمع العصافير عم تزقزق كل يوم الصبح

ba2der asma3 el3aSaafeer 3am tza2ze2 kol yom el Sbuh

-I can hear the sound of the birds chirping every morning

بقدر اسمع زقزقة العصافير كل يوم الصبح

ba2der asma3 za2za2ah el3aSaafeer kol yom el Sbuh

ROOSTERS

Roosters crow and the verb is..

صاح – بيصيح

Verb I

Sah – beSeeH

* This verb means to holler/shout but can be used to describe the sound of a rooster crowing.

Examples:

-When I was living in the countryside, I always wake up to the sound of the rooster crowing

لما كنت عايشة بالريف كنت دايما فيق لما بيصيح الديك

lama kunt 3aishe bel reef kunt daiman feeq lama beSeeH el deek

-When I was living in the countryside, I always wake up to the sound of the rooster

لما كنت عايشة بالريف كنت دايما فيق ع صوت الديك

lama kunt 3aishe bel reef kunt daiman feeq 3a sowt el deek

***

That’s it folks! Don’t forget to subscribe!

Take care and I’ll see ya in the hosh,

Lyn