What does arf mean?
"Arf" is an informal English interjection that imitates the short, sharp bark of a dog. It belongs to the family of onomatopoeic animal noises — alongside "woof", "bow-wow", and "yap" — and appears most often in comic strips, children's books, and playful conversation rather than serious prose. In British slang, particularly the Cockney tradition of London, "arf" also serves as a jokey phonetic spelling of "half": "arf a mo" means "half a moment", and "arf a pint" means half a pint. This dual life — cartoon dog noise and cheeky Londonism — gives the word more range than its brevity suggests. It carries no formal register at all: using it signals humour, informality, and often a touch of theatricality. Writers reach for it when they want dialogue to sound lively and unpretentious, while speakers use it affectionately to evoke old-fashioned East End banter. Though slight, "arf" is a genuinely useful word for anyone writing dialogue, comedy, or anything that wants to capture the sound of everyday speech.
Used to represent or imitate the bark of a dog.
""Arf! Arf!" yapped the terrier at the postman."
Almost exclusively humorous or informal; common in comics and children's literature.
(British slang) A jocular form of 'half'.
""Hang on, arf a mo," she said, rummaging in her bag."
Chiefly British, especially Cockney; may sound dated outside that context.
"Arf" isn't just a cartoon dog's bark — in Cockney slang it doubles as the word "half", so "arf a mo" literally means "half a moment".
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of arf
"Arf" is onomatopoeic in origin, coined simply to mimic the sound of a dog's bark, and has circulated in English comic writing since at least the nineteenth century. Its second life as slang for "half" arose from the way the word was pronounced in certain London dialects, where "half" could sound like "arf"; this usage became strongly associated with Cockney speech. Because both senses are informal spoken forms rather than learned borrowings, the word has no cognates in other languages and no deeper root beyond imitation and dialect pronunciation.
How arf is actually used
Strictly informal and humorous; the dog-bark sense appears mainly in comic writing, children's books, and casual speech. The 'half' sense is chiefly British, especially associated with Cockney and working-class London speech, and can sound dated or affectionately old-fashioned.
Easily confused with arf
In British slang, 'arf' is a playful phonetic spelling of 'half', but unlike 'half' it is also used on its own as an imitation of a dog's bark.