# Speeling Of Animal Sounds

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speeling-of-animal-sounds/30292>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [August 22, 2000, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speeling-of-animal-sounds/30292 "2000-08-22T11:34:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Damhna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@Damhna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damhna)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2000, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speeling-of-animal-sounds/30292/1 "2000-08-22T11:34:31Z")

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Quote:

The Dutch, it seems have an unusual way of hearing animals spelling what they hear. While most languages hear some kind of “moo-moo” or “mu-mu’’ from the cow, the Dutch hear a cow say 'boe” or “boeh,” which to me sounds a little like a “beuh.” The Ethiopian I consulted said a cow there says “e-bah,” making me wonder just how many cows there might be in Ethiopia.  
Cue 250 Venture Capitalists booking their flights to Ethiopia at the same time

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**Author:** ![alumshubby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5a626/32.png) [@alumshubby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alumshubby)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2000, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speeling-of-animal-sounds/30292/2 "2000-08-22T13:00:26Z")

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I recall learning in German 101 that to Germans, a dog’s bark is pronounced by humans as “wau-wau.” (the W sound in German is like an English V, of course.) Later I read that it’s “haf-haf,” and ever since, I’ve had something to think about when I can’t get to sleep any other way.

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**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2000, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speeling-of-animal-sounds/30292/3 "2000-08-22T13:13:45Z")

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I just wanted to add that the ancient Egyptian word for cat is **miaow**.

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**Author:** ![G.B.H.Hornswoggler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c67d28/32.png) [@G.B.H.Hornswoggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.B.H.Hornswoggler)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2000, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speeling-of-animal-sounds/30292/4 "2000-08-22T13:21:07Z")

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Hey, I beat **AW** to this one:

[swiss accent]  
Please add a link to the column to which you are replying!  
[/swiss accent]

In this case, it’s [How do non-English speakers make animal noises?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a950505a.html)

We now return you to your regularly scheduled discussion.

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**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2000, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speeling-of-animal-sounds/30292/5 "2000-08-22T20:52:14Z")

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Come to think of it, I’ve never heard a dog say “bow wow”. Woof, arf, ruff, errf, ber-er-er-er-er-er, and aayieeek, aayieek, aayieeek, but no bow wow.