English Vocabulary - Vocabulario de inglés

rustle: make a sound like the one that leaves or sheets of paper make when they move.
(crujir)
The leaves on the branch rustled in the wind.

clink: make a short high sound, like glass or metal objects hitting each other.
(tintinear)
As she carried the tray, the glasses clinked.

chink: make a high ringing sound, like glass or metal objects hitting each other. It also refers to the noise of coins.
(tintinear)
They chinked their glasses and drank a toast to the couple.

clang: make a loud, long, ringing noise like a metal hitting another metal object.
(hacer un sonido metálico)
The door clanged shut and the elevator went up.

toll: make a slow ringing sound, like large bells in a church.
(repicar, tañer, doblar)
Bells tolled when the Pope died.

chime: make a ringing sound, like small bells or a clock that tells what time it is.
(repicar, sonar, dar la hora)
The clock in the living-room chimed five.

tinkle: make a light ringing sound, like very small bells or metal objects.
(tintinear, campanillear)
A tinkling bell meant that the butler had to go immediately.

bang: make a loud noise, when hitting something hard.
(golpearse ruidosamente)
I banged on the window to get her attention.

crunch: make a noise like something being crushed.
(hacer crujir, triturar)
As we walked up to the house, leaves crunched under our feet.

crack: make a short sudden loud noise, like a small explosion.
(dar un estampido o un estruendo)
We could hear the thunder cracking above us.

crash: make a sudden loud noise, like something being hit.
(dar un estruendo)
The thunder crashed and boomed outside.

screech: make a loud, unpleasant, high noise, squeal.
(crujir, chillar)
Brakes screeched and then we heard  a crash.

roar: make a continuous loud noise.
(rugir)
The helicopter roared above them.

drone: make a continuous low dull sound.
(rugir)
An airplane droned overhead.

thud: hit something with a loud noise.
(hacer un ruido sordo)
Waves thudded against the side of the ship.

clatter: make a loud unpleasant noise, when hard objects are hit.
(repiquetear, retumbar)
The tray slipped and clattered to the floor.

scrape: make a rough unpleasant noise by rubbing against a hard surface.
(chirriar)
Chairs scraped loudly when we stood up.

creak: make a long high noise, like a wooden floor when somebody walks on it.
(rechinar, chirriar)
The stair creaked as she walked up.
The door creaked open.

squeak: make a short high noise.
(rechinar, chirriar, chillar)
The shoes squeaked on the tiled floor.

knock: make a sound when hitting with the knuckles.
(golpear, llamar a la puerta)
Someone is knocking at the door.

patter: make short quiet sounds by hitting a surface.
(golpetear, tamborilear)
Rain pattered against the windows.

buzz: make a rough continuous sound, like a bee or a fly.
(zumbar)
We could hear saws buzzing in the wood.

honk: make a loud noise using a horn.
(hacer sonar la bocina o el claxon)
The drivers honked his horn but the demonstrators didn't move.

hoot: make a loud noise with the horn on a car. In the UK the device is called 'a hooter', in the US it's a horn.
(ulular)
The car behind was hooting at us.

twang: make a ringing sound by being pulled and suddenly let go.
(vibrar)
He twanged the guitar strings.

boom: make a loud deep noise, as when a bomb goes off.
(estallar, tronar, retumbar)
Bombs boomed all around the campground.

bonk: make a sudden short deep sound, like a wooden spoon being hit against a wall or the floor.
(hacer un ruido sordo)

whine: make a long high sound because you are in pain or unhappy.
(gimotear, lloriquear)
The dog was really sad; it whined all night.

whimper: make low crying sounds.
(gimotear, lloriquear)
She heard the dog whimper all night.

hum: make musical sounds with your lips closed.
(tararear, canturrar)
If you don't know the tune, you can just hum the tune.

whistle: make a high musical sound by forcing out air through puckered lips.
(silbar)
She whistled a tune as she cleaned the kitchen.

hiss: make a long "s" sound, like a snake.
(sisear)
The tires hissed on the wet road.
The audience began to hiss and boo.

sniff: breathe air into your nose nosily.
(resollar, resoplar)
Stop sniffing and blow your nose.

snort: make noise by breathing air out through the nose, to show that you are annoyed or amused.
(bufar, resoplar)
Paul snorted with laughter.

gasp: breathe in suddenly in a way that can be heard.
(respirar agitadamente, jadear)
The audience gasped in surprise.

whoop: shout loudly and happily.
(gritar de alegría)
The players ran around the field, whooping happily.

chant: recite or sing in a flat way or using only one tone.
(corear)
That priest usually chants the liturgy.

boo: make a noise to show dissatisfaction.
(abuchear)
The audience started booing and he left the stage.

moan: make a long low noise to show pain or unhappiness.
(gemir)
He moaned and cried in pain.

cheer: shout to show happiness, approval or support.
(dar vivas, alentar, animar)
The audience cheered when the team appeared.

clap: make a short sharp noise by hitting the hands against each other, to show approval or enjoyment.
(aplaudir, batir palmas)
The audience began to clap as the actors appeared.

plop: make a sound like dropping into water.
(hacer plaf)
The frog plopped into the pond.

sizzle: make a sound like bacon being fried in a pan.
(crepitar, chisporrotear)
The sausages started to sizzle in the pan.

swish: make a soft sound by moving something quickly through the air.
(hacer frufrú, pasar silbando)
Her ball-gown swished as she walked.

blare: make a loud unpleasant noise.
(retumbar, atronar)
We could hear horns blaring outside.

rumble: make a series of short low sounds.
(gruñir)
We could hear thunder rumbling.

squelch: make a sucking sound, like walking in mud.
(chapotear, chapalear)
Her shoes squelched as she walked in the mud.

rattle: make a series of short sounds, like small objects hitting each other.
(traquetear, tintinear)
The bottles rattled as he carried the crates.

click: make a short hard sound, to show disapproval or when using the computer mouse.
(dar un chasquido, hacer clic)
His mother clicked her tongue and shut the door.

chirp / chirrup (UK): make short high sound, like small birds make in the morning.
(piar, trinar)
We woke up and heard the birds chirp.

putter (UK): make a low sound, like a car with a low revolution engine or a motor boat.
(golpetear)
The old car puttered by.

cluck: make a short low sound, like chickens do.
(cloquear, cacarear)
We could hear the chickens clucking around.

bleep: make a high electronic sound, like a pager, a mobile phone or a timer.
(emitir un pitido)
The timer began to bleep indicating that the eggs were cooked.

crackle: make short sounds, like something burning in a fire.
(crujir, crepitar)
The logs crackled on the fire.

gurgle: make a low sound, like water flowing.
(borbotear, gorgotear)
He could hear the river gurgling down in the forest.

whoosh: a soft sound made by something moving fast through the air, or made when air is pushed out of something.
(zumbar, pasar zumbando)
The train sped through the station with a whoosh.

We thank Alicia Mansilla (from Buenos Aires, Argentina), Francis Dixon-Clarke (from Sao Paulo, Brazil) and Natalia Nicola (from Mar del Plata, Argentina) for their contribution.

Más verbos descriptivos

Ways of looking

Ways of speaking

Ways of laughing

Ways of eating

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Listado de Verbos Descriptivos

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