ladrido
/laˈdɾido/
The English phrase "dog bark" is translated into Spanish as ladrido.
ladrido refers specifically to the noun for the sound a dog makes. When you want to describe the action of a dog barking, you use the verb ladrar. Depending on the specific sound, other verbs might be more appropriate: use aullar if the dog is howling or chillar if the bark is high-pitched or whiny.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the onomatopoeic word guau is used to represent the sound of a dog barking, similar to how English speakers use "woof".
How does it change in a sentence?
ladrido is a masculine noun. While ladrido is the noun used to name the sound, the verb ladrar is the general term used to describe the act of barking.
How do you pronounce it?
/laˈdɾido/
Did you know?
- The verb ladrar is used idiomatically in some regions to describe someone who talks a lot but never takes action, similar to the English phrase 'all bark and no bite'.
- In certain contexts, a very high-pitched or sharp bark might be described using the verb chillar, which is more commonly used for 'screaming' or 'shrieking' in English.
- While guau is the standard sound in Spain, speakers in Latin America often write the sound of a dog bark as guau guau or even wau wau.
Examples in context
- El perro empezó a ladrarThe dog started barking
- El chihuahua comenzó a chillarThe chihuahua started yelping
- Mi vecino tiene un perro que ladra mucho.My neighbor has a dog that barks a lot.
- Es molesto cuando los perros ladran durante la noche.It is bothersome when dogs bark during the night.
- El perro de Juan echó unos ladridosJuan's dog let out some barks
- El ladrido del perro me despertó.The dog's bark woke me up.
- El ladrido del perro es muy fuerte.The dog's bark is very loud.
- Escuché un ladrido en el jardín.I heard a bark in the garden.
- Ese ladrido me asustó por la noche.That bark scared me during the night.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are sitting in their living room at night.
- Alejandro¿Oíste ese ladrido extraño?Did you hear that strange bark?
- ElenaSí, fue un ladrido muy corto.Yes, it was a very short bark.
- AlejandroMe preocupa que sea un perro suelto.I am worried it might be a stray dog.
- ElenaNo te preocupes, Alejandro, no es nada.Don't worry, Alejandro, it is nothing.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ladrido, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
