What Does a Pig Sound Like Around the World? — From Oink Oink to Groin Groin

Ever listened to a pig munching in the mud?

In Japan, it’s “buu buu” (ぶーぶー) — a nasal, snorting sound that’s often used not only for pigs, but for cute complaints and pouting too!

But how do other languages express the sound of pigs?
Let’s trot through the barnyard of global onomatopoeia!

What Does a Pig Sound Like?

First of all, listen to the actual sound carefully.

Japanese: ぶーぶー (Buu Buu)

In Japanese, pigs say ぶーぶー (buu buu).

It imitates a snorting, slightly grumbly nasal sound — and is also used to express someone complaining or sulking in a cute way.

Example

ぶたが、ぶーぶーと鳴いています。
(Buta ga buu buu naite imasu.)
→ The pig is going buu buu.

English: Oink Oink

In English, pigs go “oink oink”, especially in children’s books and cartoons.

The word imitates a short, high-pitched snorting sound, usually repeated.

Example

The pig says oink oink!

French: Groin Groin

In French, pigs go “groin groin” — pronounced with a nasal “wah” sound (kind of like “grwah grwah”).

It sounds deeper and more nasal than “oink,” and is often drawn out.

Example

Le cochon fait groin groin.
(The pig says groin groin.)

Chinese: 哼哼 (hēng hēng) / 噗哧 (pūchī)

In Mandarin Chinese, the most common pig sound is 哼哼 (hēng hēng) — soft nasal grunts.
Sometimes 噗哧 (pūchī) is used too, for a puffing/snorting sound.

Example

猪在哼哼叫。
(Zhū zài hēng hēng jiào.)
→ The pig is making hēng hēng sounds.

Korean: 꿀꿀 (Kkul Kkul)

In Korean, pigs say 꿀꿀 (kkul kkul) — a gurgly, bubbly sound from deep in the throat.
It mimics the low rumbling snort of pigs.

Example

돼지가 꿀꿀거려요.
(Dwaeji-ga kkul kkul georyeoyo.)
→ The pig is going kkul kkul.

German: Grunz Grunz

In German, pigs go “grunz grunz”, mimicking a grunting sound.
It’s lower and more realistic than cartoonish “oink.”

Example

Das Schwein macht grunz grunz.
(The pig goes grunz grunz.)

Italian: Oink / Gruf Gruf

In Italian, pigs may say “oink” like in English, but also “gruf gruf”, which imitates a snuffling, foraging noise.

Example

Il maiale fa gruf gruf.
(The pig says gruf gruf.)

Final Thoughts

Pigs grunt and snort the same around the world — but each language “hears” it differently.

• ぶーぶー(buu buu) is round, soft, and cute — perfect for manga and everyday expressions.
• Oink oink, groin groin, kkul kkul, gruf gruf — each version reflects cultural sound perception.

Whether it’s the farm, a cartoon, or a pouty kid saying “buu buu!”,
this snorting sound has truly trotted across linguistic borders!