Grrr
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Grrr is an onomatopoeic word which imitates the sound of predatory animals, and is often used with other, related meanings. It is one of the rare pronounceable words of the English language that consist solely of consonants. Its most simple use is by children imitating animals, "Mommy, look at the lion, Grrr!".
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Anger
Grrr is commonly used to express anger or annoyance in writing. It can be used in sentences such as:
- "Grrr — you stole my alpaca!"
- "Is that my pen you're using? Grrr!"
- "I am doing my scary glare. Grrr. I am scaring you. Grrr. Look at my scary glaring." (This is a sarcastic usage, and would be said in a flat, monotonic voice)
- "grr im mad" is a popular line in chatrooms.
Grrr is also a common sound made by monsters in fiction.
Cuteness
When said in a slightly higher pitch, possibly with a rising pitch on the end, grrr can be used to portray cuteness. This probably seeks to create, in the mind of the listener, an image of a young animal, when they are still cute and cuddly, rather than lethal predators.
The stereotypical response to this type of grrr is "awww, you're so cute!"
Sexual arousal
Grrr can be said suggestively, to indicate sexual arousal. It is often done with a raised eyebrow and a hand movement, in imitation of a tiger, and signifies an animalistic or base lust. It might be used in contexts such as:
- "It's dirty and you want it. GRRR."
- "Oooooh. Mr Baby—I mean Bailey!! Grrr."
- "Grrr, baby! Grrr!" –Austin Powers
A stereotypical response to this type of grrr is "easy tiger!" or "down boy!".
"Grrrrrr pffffff" in Dutch
In Dutch language comic strips, "Grrrrrr pfffffff" is used to signify snoring, much as "Zzzzzzz" is in English strips. The "G" is aspirated much like the English "H" and the "r" is guttural and rolled. "Grrrrr pffffff," as pronounced in Dutch, is, in fact, a very accurate phonetic rendition of the sound of a snore.