Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| grogner | /ɡʁɔ.ɲe/ |
| bougonner | /bu.ɡɔ.ne/ |
| feuler | /fø.le/ |
| grommeler | /ɡʁɔm.le/ |
| gronder | /ɡʁɔ̃.de/ |
| ronchonner | /ʁɔ̃.ʃɔ.ne/ |
The verb grogner is used to describe making a deep guttural sound, such as when an animal growls or a person expresses intense anger. It is also used idiomatically to describe a growling stomach (le ventre qui grogne). Related nouns include grognement, which refers to a deep, rumbling or threatening sound and feulement, which refers to a similar sound. If the low-pitched rumbling sound is produced by a wind instrument, the noun grincement is used.
Which one should you use?
While grogner is the general term for an animal or person expressing deep-seated anger, other words are more specific. Use feuler specifically for the sound a cat makes when it is hissing or growling. For humans muttering discontent or complaining under their breath, use bougonner or grommeler. Note that gronder can refer to a low rumbling sound like thunder, but it is most commonly used to mean scolding a child.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ɡʁɔ.ɲe/. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The verb grogner is a direct descendant of the Latin word grunnīre, which was used to describe the deep sounds made by pigs.
- The word ronchonner is often used to describe a personality type. A person who is ronchon is not just growling in the moment but is chronically grumpy or cantankerous.
- The verb grommeler is a frequentative, meaning its very grammatical structure is designed to suggest that the grumbling is a repeated, continuous action.
Examples in context
- Il grommela entre ses dents.He growled under his breath.
- Mon estomac gronda bruyamment.My stomach growled loudly.
- Le gros chien commence à grogner.The big dog begins to growl.
- On peut entendre l'ours grogner dans la forêt.One can hear the bear growl in the forest.
- Le loup a commencé à grogner contre l'intrus.The wolf began to growl at the intruder.
Example conversation
A woman and a man are watching a documentary about wild animals.
- NathanRegarde, le lion est en train de grogner.Look, the lion is growling.
- ManonC'est un son vraiment impressionnant.It is a truly impressive sound.
- NathanIl semble très en colère.He seems very angry.
- ManonOui, il protège son territoire.Yes, he is protecting his territory.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “growl” translations and entries grogner, bougonner, feuler, grommeler, gronder, ronchonner, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries grogner, grommeler, CC BY-SA 4.0.
