What Sound Do Elephants Make in Japanese? Meet the Mighty Sound of the Japanese Elephant!

09/18/202509/23/2025

You might know the sound of an elephant as “trumpet” in English.
In Spanish, it’s often written as “barritar.”

But in Japanese, the call of an elephant is written as — 「ぱおーん!」(Paoon!)

It’s the sound of power, size, and emotion — sometimes playful, sometimes majestic!
From children’s picture books to zoo visits, “Paoon” is the voice that brings elephants to life in Japanese.

First, let’s listen to how it sounds!

Table of Contents

What is “Paoon” (ぱおーん)?

“Paoon” is the Japanese onomatopoeia for an elephant’s trumpet — that loud, drawn-out call from its trunk.

It mimics a deep, echoing sound that can carry over long distances.
You’ll hear it when elephants greet each other, warn others, or show excitement.

It often appears in children’s stories, anime, or even comedy sketches with circus elephants.

Pronunciation

pah-ohn
(Stretch out the “oon” part — “Paooon!” like a trumpet blast fading into the distance.)

What Does “Paoon” Look Like?

In manga, “Paoon” is usually drawn in big, round letters near the elephant’s trunk.

You can almost see the sound waves radiating out like ripples.

How Do You Say It?

It’s the sound of power, size, and emotion — sometimes playful, sometimes majestic!

Let’s Compare!

Even though elephants sound the same everywhere, different languages hear them differently:

English: Trumpet!

Spanish: Barritar

Why Do Elephant Sounds Differ by Language?

Like all animal sounds, elephant trumpets are filtered through culture and language.

Japanese tends to stretch sounds into long vowels, creating a dramatic and friendly impression.

That’s why “Paoon” feels round, loud, and almost musical.