What Is “Pero Pero”? The Japanese Sound of Gentle Licking

Have you ever watched a cat carefully licking its paw?

Or seen someone taste a bit of ice cream from a spoon?

That small, repeated licking motion in Japanese is expressed as:

“Pero Pero” (ぺろぺろ)

Let’s hear how it sounds:

What is “Pero Pero” (ぺろぺろ)?

“Pero Pero” describes the action of licking repeatedly with the tongue.

It is often used for:

• Animals licking themselves or people
• Someone tasting food lightly
• A playful or gentle licking motion

Compared with “bero bero”, which feels messy or exaggerated,
“pero pero” sounds lighter, cleaner, and more delicate.

Pronunciation

peh-ro peh-ro
(Say it lightly, like a quick flick of the tongue.)

Category

Motion

What Does “Pero Pero” Look Like?

It looks like a cat licking its paw.
Like a dog giving a quick lick to its owner.
Like someone tasting melted ice cream from their finger.

How Do You Say It?

Say it quickly and lightly:

Pero pero…

Like a soft tongue movement —
small, repeated, and playful.

Examples in Daily Life

Example 1: A cat grooming itself

The cat sat quietly on the floor,
cleaning its paw —

pero pero…

Example 2: Tasting something sweet

She tasted the chocolate on her finger —

pero pero.

Cultural Note

In English, you might say:

• “Lick lick”
• “Lap up”
• “Taste with the tongue”

But “pero pero” has a cute, gentle feeling in Japanese.

It’s commonly used when describing:

• Pets grooming themselves
• Children tasting sweets
• Someone playfully licking something small

Compared with similar expressions:

• Pero Pero ぺろぺろ → light, neat licking
• Bero Bero べろべろ → messy or exaggerated licking (or drunkenness)

So pero pero often feels cuter and more delicate.

Watch & Feel the “Pero Pero” World!

Feel the “Pero Pero” — the inner sway

▶

▶ Watch on YouTube

Try Using It!

When a pet licks your hand…
When someone tastes a drop of sauce…
When a cat cleans itself quietly…

Say it softly:

Pero pero〜

More Motion-based Onomatopoeia: