ululare
/u.luˈla.re/
The English phrase "howl" is translated into Italian as ululare. Wiktionary also lists gannire.
Meaning: to utter a loud, protracted, mournful sound or cry, as dogs and wolves often do (verb)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| ululare | /u.luˈla.re/ |
| gannire | /ɡanˈni.re/ |
Ululare means to utter a loud, protracted, mournful sound or cry, as dogs and wolves often do. It can also be used metaphorically to describe the wind howling through trees or buildings.
Which one should you use?
Use ululare for the long, mournful howls of wolves or the sound of the wind. In contrast, latrare refers to the sharp, repetitive barking of a dog. For the nouns, ululato is used for a single howl, such as that of a wolf, while latrato refers to a bark, which is a shorter, more aggressive sound than the mournful ululato.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun for a single howl, such as that of a wolf, is ululato.
How do you pronounce it?
ululare is pronounced /u.luˈla.re/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable.
Did you know?
- In a figurative sense, Italians use ululare to describe the sound of a siren, such as those on police cars or ambulances.
- The Italian word ululazione refers not just to the sound of a howl, but can historically refer to the ritual wailing of mourners at a funeral.
- The term gannire is specifically reserved for the high-pitched, repetitive howling or yelping of dogs, rather than the deep howl of a wolf.
Examples in context
- Il lupo urlò alla lunaThe wolf howled at the moon
- Le sirene ululano nel buioThe sirens howl in the darkness
- Il bambino sta cantando a squarciagolaThe child is singing at the top of his lungs
- I lupi iniziano a ululare al tramonto.The wolves begin to howl at sunset.
- Sento un cane ululare in lontananza.I hear a dog howling in the distance.
- Il vento sembra ululare tra gli alberi.The wind seems to howl among the trees.
Example conversation
Chiara and Francesco are walking in the woods at night.
- ChiaraFrancesco, senti? Qualcosa sta iniziando a ululare.Francesco, do you hear? Something is starting to howl.
- FrancescoSì, sembra un lupo molto vicino.Yes, it sounds like a wolf very close by.
- ChiaraÈ inquietante sentire ululare nel bosco.It is eerie to hear howling in the woods.
- FrancescoAndiamo via velocemente da qui.Let's get out of here quickly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “howl” translations and entries ululare, gannire, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
