Revision 28429487 of "Grrr" on enwiki

'''''Grrr''''' is an [[Onomatopoeia|onomatopoeic]] word which imitates the [[growling]] sound of [[predator]]y 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 [[consonant]]s. Its most simple use is by children imitating animals, "Mommy, look at the lion, Grrr!".

== Anger ==

''Grrr'' is commonly used to express anger or annoyance in writing.  It can be used in sentences such as:
*"Is that my pen you're using? Grrr!"
*"I am doing my scary glare. Grrr. I am scaring you."  (This is a [[Sarcasm|sarcastic]] usage)

''Grrr'' is also a common sound made by [[monster]]s 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.

== 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]].

Grrr was used in this way in the popular movie, [[Austin Powers]], as one of the title character's signature lines: "Grrr, baby! Grrr!"

A stereotypical response to this type of ''grrr'' is "easy tiger!" or "down boy!".

=="Grrrrrr pffffff" in Dutch==

In [[Dutch language]] [[comic strip]]s, "Grrrrrr pfffffff" is used to signify [[snoring]], much as "Zzzzzzz" is in [[English language|English]] strips. The "G" is [[aspirated]] much like the English "H" and the "r" is [[guttural]] and [[Trill consonant|rolled]]. "Grrrrr pffffff," as pronounced in Dutch, is, in fact, a very accurate phonetic rendition of the sound of a snore.

==See also==
*[[growling]]

[[Category:Onomatopoeia]]