Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 吠える | hoeru | [ho̞e̞ɾɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 遠吠えする | tōboe suru |
The primary meaning is to utter a loud, protracted, mournful sound or cry, typically associated with dogs or wolves. Related nouns used for a protracted, mournful cry of a dog or a wolf include 遠吠え and 叫び声, while nouns for a prolonged cry of distress or anguish include 嘆き and 絶叫.
What does it mean word for word?
The noun 遠吠え is composed of the elements for 'far' and 'barking/howling', literally meaning 'far-off barking'.
Which one should you use?
吠える is a general verb that can mean both to bark and to howl. In contrast, 遠吠えする is used specifically for the long-distance, communicative howling typical of wolves or dogs calling to one another.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some regions, the verb 唸る can be used to indicate a ferocious or fierce howl and the verb 啼く can sometimes be used to describe a high-pitched howl of certain animals.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
hoeru
Did you know?
- If a person is 'howling' with laughter in a way that is loud and uncontrolled, Japanese speakers would not use any version of 'howl'. They would instead use the phrase 爆笑する (to laugh explosively).
- When describing a wolf's howl in a mythical or highly stylized way, Japanese writers might use 慟哭する (doukoku suru). This describes a 'lamentation' and shifts the howl from a biological act to a tragic, human-like expression of grief.
- The word 吠える descends from the Proto-Japonic root *pəyu and has cognates in the Ryukyuan languages, such as ぶいるん in Kunigami.
Examples in context
- 遠吠えが森に響き渡った。The howling echoed through the forest.
- ワンちゃんが月を見て吠えた。The dog howled at the moon.
- オオカミが月に向かって吠える。Ookami ga tsuki ni mukatte hoeru.A wolf howls toward the moon.
- 遠くで何かが吠える声がした。Tooku de nanika ga hoeru koe ga shita.I heard the sound of something howling in the distance.
Example conversation
Yui and Yota are walking through a forest at night.
- 結衣 Yui何か聞こえた？犬が吠える声みたい。Nanika kikoeta? Inu ga hoeru koe mitai.Did you hear something? It sounds like a dog howling.
- 陽太 Yota本当だ。どこにいるんだろうね。Hontō da. Doko ni irun darō ne.You're right. I wonder where it is.
- 結衣 Yuiあっちの山の方で吠えているよ。Atchi no yama no hō de hoete iru yo.It's howling over there toward the mountain.
- 陽太 Yotaちょっと怖いから、早く帰ろう。Chotto kowai kara, hayaku kaerō.It's a bit scary, so let's go home quickly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “howl” translations and entries 吠える, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 吠える, CC BY-SA 4.0.
