Guau

Guau is the Spanish onomatopoeic term used to represent a dog’s bark. In everyday language and in writing, it is employed to imitate the sound a dog makes, much like “woof” in English. Beyond its use as a bark, guau also appears as an interjection in Spanish, expressing surprise or admiration, similar to how “wow” is used in English.

Etymology and usage context: The form guau reflects the phonetic attempt to capture a canine vocalization in Spanish. It is widely understood across Spanish-speaking regions, including Spain and Latin America, and appears in children’s books, comics, subtitles, and informal dialogue. Repetitions such as “guau guau” commonly indicate a dog barking, especially in cartoons or onomatopoeic text.

Cultural and linguistic notes: As an onomatopoeic word, guau is part of a broader set of animal sounds used in Spanish to depict animal noise in writing. When used as an interjection, guau conveys astonishment or emphasis, functioning independently of the canine sound. This dual usage—sound imitation and exclamatory interjection—reflects common practices in Spanish for representing everyday sounds and reactions in text.

See also: Onomatopoeia, Bark (dog), Woof.