croak

Croak is a verb and noun in English that refers to a deep, loud, harsh sound or voice, especially the sound made by frogs, toads, and some birds. As a verb, it can mean to produce such a sound: a frog croaks at night, or to utter with a croaking voice, often implying hoarseness or roughness, as in croaking out an apology.

As a noun, croak denotes the croaking sound itself: the croak of a frog. In biology, the related term croaker is used for certain fish of the family Sciaenidae that produce croaking sounds.

Croak also appears in informal slang with two common meanings. It can mean to die, as in the phrase someone croaked last night. This sense is widely understood but considered coarse or insensitive in many contexts. Additionally, croak can be used figuratively to describe speaking in a rough, hoarse voice due to illness, smoke, or age.

Etymology and usage notes: the verb croak is onomatopoeic, reflecting the sound of frogs. The death sense developed later in English slang and has since become a widely understood though informal usage. The word appears in both everyday and literary contexts to convey harsh vocal quality or an abrupt end.