Ever watched an action movie and noticed how the sound of a gunshot differs across languages?
In Japanese, it’s ban! (ばん！) — sharp, sudden, and full of impact.
But how do other languages express that explosive sound of a gun going off?
Let’s take a shot through the world of onomatopoeia and find out!
What Does an Actual Gunshot Sound Like?
First of all, listen to the actual sound carefully!
Japanese: ばん！ (Ban!)
In Japanese, ばん！ represents the sudden, striking sound of a gunshot or explosion.
It’s also used in manga and anime when someone makes a dramatic entrance or slams a door.
Example
じゅうのおとは、ばん！です。
(Jū no oto wa ban! desu.)
(The sound of the gun is ban!)
How Do You Say It?
English: Bang!
In English, bang! is the most common word for a gunshot sound.
It’s short, powerful, and instantly recognizable in movies, comics, and video games.
It can also describe slamming or sudden impacts.
Example
The sound of the gun is bang!
How Do You Say It?
French: Pan!
In French, pan! is used for gunshots, especially in children’s games or comic books.
It’s lighter and more playful compared to English bang! but just as iconic.
Example
Le bruit du pistolet, c’est pan!
(The sound of the gun is pan!)
How Do You Say It?
German: Peng!
German uses peng! for gunfire, explosions, or loud pops.
It’s energetic and often appears in comic sound effects, similar to English bang!.
Example
Der Schuss macht peng!
(The gunshot goes peng!)
How Do You Say It?
Korean: 빵! (Ppang!)
In Korean, 빵! (ppang!) is used for gunshots and explosions.
It’s very close to the Japanese ban! but starts with a breathier P sound.
Example
총 소리는 빵!입니다.
(Chong sorineun ppang! imnida.)
(The sound of the gun is ppang!)
How Do You Say It?
Chinese: 砰！(Pēng!) / 嘭！(Bēng!)
In Mandarin, 砰 (pēng) and 嘭 (bēng) both represent gunshots or explosions.
砰 is sharper, while 嘭 is deeper and heavier.
Both capture the percussive burst of sound when a gun fires.
Example
枪的声音是砰！
(Qiāng de shēngyīn shì pēng!)
(The sound of the gun is pēng!)
How Do You Say It?
Italian: Bang! / Pam! / Bum!
In Italian, bang! is borrowed from English, but pam! and bum! are also used.
Pam! is lighter, like a pop; Bum! is deeper and closer to an explosion.
Example
Il suono della pistola è bang!
(The sound of the gun is bang!)
How Do You Say It?
Brazilian Portuguese: Pá! / Pum! / Bum!
In Brazilian Portuguese, gunshots can be pá!, pum!, or bum!, depending on their intensity.
Pá! is short and crisp, pum! can sound softer (and sometimes comic), and bum! means a full, loud explosion.
Example
O som da arma é pá!
(The sound of the gun is pá!)
How Do You Say It?
Final Thoughts
From ban! to peng!, pēng!, ppang!, and pam!, each language captures the sharp burst of a gunshot in its own way.
Some sound serious, others playful — but all express the same moment of sudden energy.
Which version do you hear when the gun goes off?
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