ouaf
/waf/
The English phrase "woof" is translated into French as ouaf.
ouaf is an onomatopoeia used to represent the sound of a dog barking. While ouaf or oua-oua can be used to describe the sound itself, you might also encounter the more formal term Aboiement when specifically referring to the phenomenon of a dog's bark.
Meaning: the sound of a dog barking (intj)
Which one should you use?
The term oua-oua is another way to represent the sound a dog makes when barking, similar to ouaf.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/waf/
Did you know?
- The verb aboyer, which means 'to bark', can be used to describe a person who is shouting or speaking in a loud, aggressive, or repetitive manner.
- The repetitive nature of French onomatopoeia like ouah ouah is part of a wider linguistic tendency to double sounds to mimic animal noises.
- The sound ouaf is primarily found in children's literature and comic strips, making it a rare sight in standard, serious prose.
Examples in context
- Ouaf !Woof!This example shows how to use ouaf to represent a dog's bark.Tatoeba #13920924 by rul, translation #13228474 by rul
- Le chien fait ouaf ouaf.The dog goes woof woof.
- J'entends un petit ouaf dans le jardin.I hear a little woof in the garden.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Manon are playing with a dog.
- GabrielRegarde le chien, il est content !Look at the dog, he is happy!
- ManonOui, il fait ouaf ouaf !Yes, he's going woof woof!
- GabrielIl veut jouer avec nous.He wants to play with us.
- ManonAllez, viens ici, petit ouaf !Come on, come here, little woof!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “woof” translations and entries ouaf, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
