Translation guide
Describes the bubbling, hollow sound of liquid flowing or air passing through liquid, often from a drain, stream, or stomach.
水がゴボゴボと排水口に流れていった。
The water was gurgling down the drain.
The sound of water or other liquid moving with bubbles, like a small stream, a drain, or liquid poured from a bottle.
An onomatopoeia for a deep, bubbling sound, like water gurgling down a drain or air bubbling through thick liquid. Often used adverbially with と.
排水口から水がゴボゴボと流れていった。
The water gurgled down the drain.
An onomatopoeia for a continuous, roaring or rushing sound, like a strong flow of water. Can describe a louder, more forceful gurgling, such as a river or a bathtub draining quickly.
お風呂の水がゴーゴーと音を立てて流れていった。
The bathwater gurgled loudly as it drained.
An onomatopoeia for a lighter, more delicate bubbling sound, like a small brook or liquid being poured from a bottle. Softer than ゴボゴボ.
小川がコポコポと音を立てている。
The stream is gurgling softly.
The gurgling noise made by the stomach or intestines, often when hungry or digesting.
An onomatopoeia specifically for stomach growling or gurgling from hunger. Often used with 鳴る (なる).
お腹がグーグー鳴っている。
My stomach is gurgling.
An onomatopoeia for a deeper, rumbling stomach sound, often associated with digestion or an upset stomach rather than just hunger.
An onomatopoeia for a high-pitched, squeaky gurgling sound from the stomach or intestines. Less common, but used in manga or casual speech.
腸がキュルキュル鳴っている。
My intestines are gurgling.
The happy, bubbling sound a baby makes, or a person gurgling while speaking or laughing.
Describes a voice that sounds gurgly, as if speaking through liquid. Can be used for a baby's cooing or a person with a throat condition.
赤ちゃんが声をゴボゴボさせて笑った。
The baby gurgled with laughter.
An onomatopoeia for a baby's soft cooing or gurgling sound, often when content or sleeping.
赤ちゃんがクークーと寝息を立てている。
The baby is gurgling softly in its sleep.
ゴボゴボ is a deep, bubbling gurgle (like a drain). ゴーゴー is a loud, continuous rush (like a strong flow). コポコポ is a light, delicate bubble sound (like a small stream). Choose based on the intensity and pitch of the sound.
ゴボゴボ：排水口の音
Gobogobo: sound of a drain
ゴーゴー：川の流れの音
Googoo: sound of a river flowing
コポコポ：小川のせせらぎ
Kopokopo: babbling of a brook
While ゴボゴボ can describe liquid sounds, for stomach growling from hunger, グーグー is the standard onomatopoeia. Using ゴボゴボ for a stomach might imply a liquid, upset stomach sound rather than hunger.
お腹がゴロゴロして気持ち悪い。
My stomach is gurgling and I feel sick.