howl
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howl
- /ˈhaʊ̯l/ Canada, US, UK
- /ˈhaʊ̯l̩/ Canada, US, UK
- /ˈhæʊ̯l/
- /ˈhaːl/
Rhymes with -aʊl
Where it comes from
From Middle English howlen, houlen, from Old English *hūlian, from Proto-West Germanic *hūilōn, from Proto-Germanic *hūwilōną, *hiuwilōną (“to howl”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *kū-, *kew- (“to howl, scream”). Likely of imitative origin.
Cognate with Saterland Frisian huulje (“to howl”), Dutch huilen (“to cry”), Romanian a hăuli (“to howl”), Old French ouler, German Low German hulen (“to howl”), German heulen (“to howl”), Danish hyle (“to howl”), Swedish yla (“to scream, yell”), Northern Luri آلٛیر (āłir, “howl”).
noun howls
- The protracted, mournful cry of a dog, wolf or other canid; also of other animals. [T]he fox was out on love-adventures, abused his rivals, and uttered scoffing screams and howls.
- Any similar sound. The howl of the wind
- A prolonged cry of distress or anguish; a wail.
verb howls · howling · howled
- To utter a loud, protracted, mournful sound or cry, as dogs and wolves often do. Methought a legion of foul fiends / Environ'd me about, and howled in my ears.
-
To utter a sound expressive of pain or distress; to cry aloud and mournfully; to lament; to wail.
Howl ye, for the day of the Lord is at hand.
Similar: ululate
- To make a noise resembling the cry of a wild beast. They howled with laughter at the prank.
- To utter with outcry. to howl derision
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: yowl, ululate, ululation, roar, wrawl, wail, yammer, yawl, screaming, yelling, scream, holler, shouting, yell, shout, cry
Translations
Every language
noun protracted, mournful cry of a dog or a wolf
| Español | aullido |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 울음 ureum, 울부짖음 ulbujijeum, 우짖음 ujijeum |
| 日本語 | 遠吠え tōboe, 叫び声 sakebi-goe |
| Português | uivo |
| Français | hurlement |
| Deutsch | Heulen |
| Italiano | ululato, uggiolio, latrato |
| Ελληνικά | ούρλιασμα oúrliasma |
| Русский | вой voj, вытьё vytʹjó |
| العربية | عُوَاء ʕuwāʔ |
| עברית | יְלָלָה y'lalá |
noun prolonged cry of distress or anguish
| Español | alarido, berrido |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 울부짖음 ulbujijeum |
| 日本語 | 嘆き nageki, 絶叫 zekkyō |
| Italiano | guaito |
| Ελληνικά | ούρλιασμα oúrliasma |
| Русский | вопль voplʹ, рёв rjov, вой voj |
verb to utter a loud, protracted, mournful sound or cry, as dogs and wolves often do
| Español | aullar, guarrear, otilar |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 울다 ulda, 울부짖다 ulbujitda, 우짖다 ujitda |
| 日本語 | 遠吠えする tōboe suru, 吠える hoeru |
| 中文 | 吼 hǒu |
| Português | uivar |
| Français | hurler |
| Deutsch | heulen, jaulen |
| Italiano | ululare, gannire |
| Ελληνικά | ουρλιάζω ourliázo |
| Română | urla, rage |
| Русский | выть vytʹ |
| Tiếng Việt | hú, tru |
| العربية | عَوَى ʕawā |
Talk about this word "howl." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/howl. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. howl. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/howl "howl." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/howl.Cite this
@misc{howl_2026,
title = {howl},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/howl},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
