Sniffles

/ˈsnɪfəlz/ noun

Definition

Light sniffling sounds made through the nose, usually from a cold or mild illness.

Etymology

From Middle English 'snifel,' related to 'sniff' (to inhale through the nose). The word evolved in the 15th-16th centuries to describe the repeated nasal sounds associated with minor respiratory congestion.

Kelly Says

The sniffles are so common that nearly every language has its own onomatopoeia for that sound—it's one of the few universal human experiences that transcends culture!

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