November 6, 2025
Learn Indonesian Language
Last updated on January 16, 2024
Please note that the term expletive in this case doesn’t mean swear words, but rather the words that mimic sounds. For example: “Moo”, “Baa”, “Quack”, etc.
When expletives are combined with me-, it indicates that the subject produces the indicated sound.
| Animal Sounds | Root Word |
|---|---|
| Anjing menggonggong | gonggong |
| Ayam berkotek/berkokok | kotek |
| Anak ayam menciap | ciap |
| Ayam jantan berkokok | kokok |
| Babi menguik | kuik |
| Bebek meleter | leter |
| Burung berkicau | kicau |
| Burung tekukur berkukur | kukur |
| Kambing mengembik | embik |
| Katak menguak | kuak |
| Kucing mengeong | eong |
| Kuda meringkik | ringkik |
| Macan mengaum | aum |
| Merpati berdekut | dekut |
| Sapi melenguh | lenguh |
| Serigala melolong | lolong |
| Tikus mencicit | cicit |
| Compare the animal sounds in English: | |
|---|---|
| cats wants something | meow |
| cats enjoy some petting | purr |
| Unhappy cats | yowl/hiss |
| dogs | bark/howl |
| angry dogs | growl |
| scared dogs | whimper |
| small dogs | yip and yap |
| horses | neigh |
| goats and sheep | bleat |
| pigs | oink/squeal/grunt |
| cows | moo/lowing |
| female chickens | cluck |
| chicks | cheep |
| roosters | crow |
| birds | chirp, trill, warble, tweet |
| owl | hoot, screach |
| ducks | quack |
| geese | honk |
| turkeys | goble |
| mosquitoes | buzz |
| crickets | chirp |
| frogs | croak |
| lion | roar |