guau
“guau” means “woof” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
woof
Also: bow-wow
📝 In Action
Mi perro siempre ladra: «¡Guau, guau!» cuando ve al cartero.
A1My dog always barks: 'Woof, woof!' when he sees the mailman.
El cachorro solo hace un pequeño 'guau' en lugar de ladrar fuerte.
A1The puppy only makes a small 'woof' instead of barking loudly.
wow
Also: cool
📝 In Action
¡Guau! No sabía que podías dibujar tan bien.
A2Wow! I didn't know you could draw so well.
Terminaste todo el proyecto en un día. ¡Guau!
B1You finished the whole project in one day. Wow!
Vimos la película y ¡guau!, fue la mejor del año.
B2We saw the movie and wow, it was the best of the year.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: guau
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'guau' to express admiration?
📚 More Resources
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
An onomatopoeic word, directly imitating the deep sound of a dog's bark. Its use as an exclamation of surprise developed later, piggybacking on its status as an expressive sound.
First recorded: Oral tradition (ancient), documented literary usage as an exclamation is more recent (20th century).
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'guau' considered formal or informal?
When used as an exclamation meaning 'Wow,' it is very informal and best used with friends or in casual settings. When describing a dog's sound, it is neutral.
How do I spell the sound a dog makes in Spanish?
The most common and accepted spelling is 'guau,' often repeated, like 'guau, guau.'