What does gurgle mean?
Gurgle is an expressive English word for the deep, hollow, bubbling sound made by moving liquid, as when water runs through a narrow pipe, a kettle begins to boil, or an empty stomach makes its familiar noises. As a verb, it describes both the production of that sound and the movement of the liquid producing it: a stream can gurgle through a channel, while a pipe can gurgle behind a wall. As a noun, a gurgle is the sound itself; in less common use, it can also refer to a small stream or flow. The word is especially effective in concrete description, where its near-onomatopoeic quality makes an ordinary sound vivid. It can also create a humorous or affectionate effect when applied to stomach noises, plumbing, or laughter. Although the sound and the motion are its central meanings, gurgle often implies a bubbling or rolling movement rather than a smooth, silent flow. It remains natural in both British and American English, ranging from practical descriptions to deliberately playful or figurative prose.
To make a deep, hollow, bubbling or rolling sound, or to flow with such a sound.
"Hot spring water gurgled through the rocks."
Often used transitively for the sound of water in a vessel or pipe and intransitively for the movement of the liquid itself.
A deep, hollow, bubbling or rolling sound; more rarely, a small stream or flow of liquid.
"She heard a faint gurgle from the drain."
The sound is usually treated as uncountable, although the rare plural form gurgles is possible in countable contexts.
The plural is rare; a gurgle is normally treated as an uncountable sound.
"Several gurgles came from the drain."
Gurgle is the rare word whose sound is almost exactly what it means.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gurgle come from?
The English word was recorded by the late sixteenth century and is generally considered imitative in origin, reproducing the liquid sound it names. Cognate formations in French, such as gargouiller and gargouille, and in German, such as gurgeln, similarly imitate bubbling or rumbling sounds rather than deriving from a securely identifiable ancient root.
Related word forms
How gurgle is actually used
The word is neutral but vivid, and it is often humorous or affectionate when applied to stomach noises, plumbing, or laughter. Figurative uses suggest a mixture of flowing, bubbling, or rumbling movement.
Easily confused with gurgle
Gurgle describes a bubbling or rolling liquid sound, whereas gargle means to rinse the throat or mouth with liquid.