What does bowwow mean?
A bowwow is an informal, chiefly childish word for a dog, and by extension for the barking sound that a dog makes. The term is a classic example of onomatopoeic nursery vocabulary — a simple reduplicated sound meant to imitate the noise dogs actually produce, making it easy for young children to say and remember. While it rarely appears in formal writing, it has long been established in children's literature, lullabies, and everyday family speech as an affectionate way to refer to a pet. Its connotations are warm, playful, and nostalgic, evoking childhood and domestic companionship rather than anything clinical or technical. Speakers encountering it today will most often find it in picture books, songs, or light-hearted descriptions of dogs. Though modern usage has largely shifted toward terms like "doggie" or simply "dog," bowwow remains a recognizable piece of English folk vocabulary — a reminder of how language often begins in the sounds children make when naming the animals around them.
A dog, used chiefly in children's speech or informal contexts.
"She promised her son they could visit the bowwow at the shelter."
The barking sound made by a dog.
"We woke to the loud bowwow of the dog next door."
The plural follows standard English noun inflection and is rare outside informal or childish registers.
"The yard was full of noisy bowwows."
Before toddlers had picture books, they had 'bowwow' — one of English's oldest and most affectionate baby-talk words for man's best friend.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bowwow
Bowwow is an imitative or onomatopoeic formation, coined to mimic the sound of a dog's bark, and it belongs to a broader family of reduplicated nursery words in English. Such formations have been part of the language since at least the early modern period, arising independently across many languages as natural attempts to represent animal noises. It shares this imitative character with other English reduplicatives such as hush-hush and pooh-pooh, which similarly repeat a syllable for expressive effect.
How bowwow is actually used
Register is informal to childish — this is primarily nursery or colloquial vocabulary rather than formal usage. It appears most often in children's books, casual conversation about pets, and older literary works.
Easily confused with bowwow
"Bow" refers to bending forward, an archery weapon, or a knotted ribbon, whereas "bowwow" is a childish or informal term for a dog or its bark.