Coos

/kuːz/ verb

Definition

Makes soft murmuring sounds like a dove or pigeon; or speaks in soft, gentle tones.

Etymology

From Old English 'cu' or imitative origins (onomatopoeia). The sound 'coo' directly mimics the call of doves and pigeons. The term also metaphorically means speaking softly and affectionately.

Kelly Says

Baby birds coo to their parents for food, and incredibly, pigeons and doves produce a special 'crop milk' from their throats to feed chicks—completely different from mammals!

Translations

AMአማርኛ
ሰንሰን
sen-sen
ARالعربية
غراب
ghurab
BNবাংলা
কুকুর
koo-kur
CACatalà
cucu
koo-koo
CSČeština
kukačka
koo-kachka
DADansk
kuku
koo-koo
DEDeutsch
Kuckucke
kʊkʊkə
ELΕλληνικά
κουκου
koo-koo
ESEspañol
cucos
koo-koss
FAفارسی
کبوتر
ka-bo-ter
FISuomi
kukko
koo-kko
FRFrançais
coqs
koks
GUGU
કૂકૂ
koo-koo
HAHA
karkara
kar-kar-a
HEעברית
קוקו
koo-koo
HIहिन्दी
कूकू
koo-koo
HUMagyar
kukorékol
koo-ko-reh-kol
IDBahasa Indonesia
kikuk
kee-koock
IGIG
ọkọ
oh-koh
ITItaliano
cuculi
koo-koo-li
JA日本語
鳴き声
naki-goe
KKKK
күк
kük
KMKM
កូ
koo
KO한국어
꼬리
kko-ri
MRMR
कूकू
koo-koo
MSBahasa Melayu
kokok
kok-ok
MYမြန်မာ
ငှက်
ngha-chet
NLNederlands
kuiken
koy-ken
NONorsk
kjukk
kjukk
PAPA
ਕੂਕੂ
koo-koo
PLPolski
kucyk
koo-chek
PTPortuguês
coos
koos
RORomână
cucu
koo-koo
RUРусский
кукушки
koo-koo-shki
SVSvenska
kuckuck
kuck-uck
SWKiswahili
kukuu
koo-koo
TAதமிழ்
குயில்
koo-yil
TEతెలుగు
కోయి
koo-yi
THไทย
เสียง
si-eo
TLTL
mga ibon
mga ee-bon
TRTürkçe
kukuk
koo-koock
UKУкраїнська
кукушка
koo-koo-shka
URاردو
کاکا
kaa-ka
VITiếng Việt
còi
choi
YOYO
ẹlẹ́
eh-leh
ZH中文
ZUZU
isiqalo
ee-si-ka-loh

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

Often gendered feminine (baby talk, soft/diminishing speech attributed to women); historically used to mock or infantilize women's voices.

Inclusive Usage

Use descriptively for sound without gendered assumption. 'They coo' is neutral; avoid implying the sound or speaker is inherently feminine.

Inclusive Alternatives

["murmurs","soft vocalizations","gentle sounds"]

Related Words

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