kaw
Very LowLiterary, Descriptive, Zoological
Definition
Meaning
The harsh cry of a crow or raven.
To utter such a cry; (rare, figurative) to speak in a harsh, grating voice.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word is an example of onomatopoeia, imitating the sound itself. It is used primarily in descriptive contexts, especially in writing, rather than in everyday conversation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both dialects treat it as a literary/descriptive sound word.
Connotations
Evokes a bleak, wild, or ominous atmosphere. Associated with desolate places.
Frequency
Equally rare in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The crow [verb] kawed.A [adjective] kaw echoed.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None standard”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Potentially in ornithology or literary analysis for sound symbolism.
Everyday
Virtually never used in conversation.
Technical
Used descriptively in zoology or wildlife writing to denote the specific call of corvids.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The rook kawed from the bare sycamore.
- A murder of crows kawed raucously over the field.
American English
- The raven kawed once and took flight.
- Crows kawed in the pine trees behind the house.
adverb
British English
- None standard.
American English
- None standard.
adjective
British English
- None standard. The participial adjective 'kawing' is possible: 'the kawing rooks'.
American English
- None standard. The participial adjective 'kawing' is possible: 'a kawing sound'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The bird says 'kaw'.
- I heard a crow kaw in the distance.
- A solitary kaw broke the silence of the winter morning.
- From the gothic spire, a raven kawed, its call a perfect sonic analogue to the crumbling stone.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a crow saying 'KAW!' — the word sounds exactly like the cry it describes.
Conceptual Metaphor
HARSH SOUND IS AN ANIMAL CRY (e.g., 'The old gate kawed in the wind.')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with the Russian letter 'ка' (ka). The word 'kaw' is not related to any Russian word for sound or animal.
- The sound it describes would be rendered in Russian as "кар" (kar) or "кря" (krya) for a crow, not a direct translation.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling it as 'caw' (which is the standard and more common variant).
- Using it as a general verb for human speech (too poetic/obscure).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'kaw' be most appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'kaw' is a less common variant spelling of the onomatopoeic word 'caw'. 'Caw' is the standard spelling found in most dictionaries.
Yes, it can be used intransitively (e.g., 'The crow kawed'). This is its primary verbal use.
No, it is very rare. The standard spelling 'caw' is more recognised but is still a low-frequency, genre-specific word.
Primarily birds of the corvid family: crows, ravens, and rooks.