gulgul: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Rare / ObsoleteArchaic / Poetic / Humorous Archaism
Quick answer
What does “gulgul” mean?
An obsolete onomatopoeic term for a gurgling or bubbling sound.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An obsolete onomatopoeic term for a gurgling or bubbling sound.
To make a bubbling or gurgling noise; archaic verb for the sound of water flowing or stomach rumbling.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally obsolete in both. Possibly slightly more attested in British dialect glossaries from the 18th–19th centuries.
Connotations
Playful, old-fashioned, or childish sound imitation.
Frequency
Not in modern usage. Zero frequency in contemporary corpora for both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “gulgul” in a Sentence
Subject + gulgul (intransitive verb)There was a gulgul (noun)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gulgul” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The old drain would gulgul whenever it rained.
- His stomach gulgulled noisily.
American English
- The creek gulguled over the stones.
- My stomach's gulguling; I must be hungry.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Not used, except possibly in historical linguistics discussions of onomatopoeia.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gulgul”
- Using it as a modern word.
- Spelling as 'goolgool' or 'gulgle'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is archaic and obsolete. It is recorded in historical dictionaries and dialect surveys as an onomatopoeic term for a gurgling sound.
Only for specific stylistic effects, such as in historical fiction, poetry, or humorous writing to sound old-fashioned or playful. It is not part of modern active vocabulary.
It can function as a verb (to make a gurgling sound) or a noun (the sound itself).
It is not important for communication. It serves as an example of how English creates words from sounds (onomatopoeia) and how words can fall completely out of use.
An obsolete onomatopoeic term for a gurgling or bubbling sound.
Gulgul is usually archaic / poetic / humorous archaism in register.
Gulgul: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡʌlɡʌl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡʌlɡʌl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None established.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
GULp GULp – the sound of gulping liquid, shortened to GULGUL.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOUND IS A LIQUID FLOW.
Practice
Quiz
'Gulgul' is best described as: