bowwow: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowInformal, Nursery, Onomatopoeic
Quick answer
What does “bowwow” mean?
An onomatopoeic word representing the sound of a dog barking.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An onomatopoeic word representing the sound of a dog barking.
A childlike or informal term for a dog; used as a noun to refer to a dog itself, especially by or to young children.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in both dialects: primarily a nursery term or onomatopoeia. No significant lexical or grammatical differences.
Connotations
Conveys a sense of simplicity, childishness, or playfulness. Can sound quaint or deliberately unsophisticated when used by adults outside of speaking to children.
Frequency
Equally rare in formal contexts in both UK and US. Slightly more likely to be encountered in UK children's literature due to historical usage (e.g., 'Bow-wow' in Mother Goose rhymes), but the difference is negligible.
Grammar
How to Use “bowwow” in a Sentence
[Child] sees a bowwow.The dog goes 'bowwow'.Look at the bowwow!Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bowwow” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The terrier began to bowwow at the postman.
- I can hear a fox bowwowing in the woods at night.
American English
- The neighbor's dog won't stop bowwowing.
- He claims he heard a coyote bowwow last evening.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used. Would be highly inappropriate and unprofessional.
Academic
Only used in specific linguistic or literary analysis discussing onomatopoeia, child language, or historical texts.
Everyday
Exclusively in informal contexts, primarily with or between young children. An adult using it seriously would be odd.
Technical
Not used in technical fields except possibly in phonetics as an example of a reduplicative onomatopoeia.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bowwow”
- Spelling as 'bow-wow' (hyphenated) is an accepted variant, but the solid form 'bowwow' is standard in modern dictionaries.
- Using it in formal writing without explicit reason (e.g., quoting a child).
- Pronouncing it as /boʊ woʊ/ (like 'bow' a ribbon) instead of /baʊ waʊ/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is a nursery word. It is used by or for young children. Adults do not use it to refer to dogs in normal conversation.
It is pronounced /ˌbaʊˈwaʊ/, rhyming with 'how now'. Both syllables have the same vowel sound as the word 'cow'.
Yes, it can be used informally as a verb meaning 'to bark like a dog', e.g., 'The puppy bowwowed all night.' This usage is also informal and playful.
This is an archaic idiom referring to a pompous, grandiose, or bombastic manner of speaking or writing. It is rarely used in modern English.
An onomatopoeic word representing the sound of a dog barking.
Bowwow is usually informal, nursery, onomatopoeic in register.
Bowwow: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbaʊˈwaʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbaʊˈwaʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the big bowwow style (archaic - a pompous or grandiose manner of speaking or writing)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
The word looks like the sound it makes: BOW (as in bending forward) WOW (an exclamation). Imagine a dog bowing and making you say 'wow' with its bark.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOUND FOR SOURCE (The characteristic sound stands for the animal itself).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'bowwow' used most appropriately?