Entry
バブー
babuu
バブー represents the babbling or cooing sound of a human infant.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
This onomatopoeia is used to describe the meaningless sounds a baby makes before they learn to speak, equivalent to 'goo-goo ga-ga' in English. It frequently appears in anime, manga, and popular culture as the default language of babies.
- Baby babbling
- Mimicking a baby
Sense Map
Baby Babbling
Used to describe the happy, neutral, or non-crying vocalizations of an infant.
赤ちゃんがバブーと声を出す。
Mimicking a Baby
Used jokingly by older characters to feign innocence or to make fun of someone acting childishly.
大人がふざけてバブーと言う。
Usage Note
How to Use
バブーと言う
Used directly to quote the babbling sound (to say 'goo-goo').
バブーと + verb
Used alongside other verbs like laughing or crying to indicate an action accompanied by baby babble.
How to Use
Common Phrases
バブーと言う
to say babu (to babble)
バブーと笑う
to laugh while babbling
バブーと声を出す
to make a babbling sound
バブーと泣く
to cry with a soft baby sound
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Baby babbling comfortably | positive | The default, widely recognized representation of a baby's non-crying voice. |
| Mimicking a baby | humorous | Used playfully by older characters to make fun of childish behavior or act deliberately innocent. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
ばぶばぶ ばぶばぶ / similar | When emphasizing a continuous flow of baby babble. | バブー is typically a single utterance, whereas バブバブ sounds more like ongoing, repetitive baby talk. | 赤ちゃんがバブバブ言っている。 |
おぎゃー おぎゃー / contrast | When describing the loud cry of a newborn baby. | バブー is a happy or neutral babbling sound, whereas オギャー is a loud, piercing cry or wail. | 赤ちゃんがオギャーと泣いた。 |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it for general cute animal sounds.
This sound is exclusively used for human infants. Animals have their own distinct onomatopoeia.
Using it to describe a baby crying intensely.
It represents light babbling or cooing. Intense, loud crying is usually expressed with 'オギャー'.
Examples
Examples
赤ちゃんが嬉しそうにバブーと言った。
あかちゃんがうれしそうにバブーといった。
The baby happily said "goo-goo ga-ga".
LiteralBasic literal use for a relaxed, babbling baby.
機嫌の良い赤ちゃんがバブーと声を出している。
きげんのよいあかちゃんがバブーとこえをだしている。
The baby in a good mood is making babbling sounds.
LiteralShows that the baby is not crying and is in a comfortable state.
アニメの赤ちゃんがバブーと笑った。
あにめのあかちゃんがバブーとわらった。
The anime baby laughed "babu".
VisualDescribes the common trope in Japanese media where a baby's sound is typically marked by this word.
彼はふざけてバブーと赤ちゃんの真似をした。
かれはふざけてバブーとあかちゃんのまねをした。
He jokingly mimicked a baby by saying "babu".
FigurativeFigurative use when someone acts like a young child.
ベビーベッドからバブーという声が聞こえる。
べびーべっだからバブーというこえがきこえる。
I can hear a baby babbling from the crib.
LiteralHearing the sound signaling that the baby is awake and comfortable.
Similar Words
オギャー
ogyaa
Loud baby crying, contrasting with the happy babble of バブー.
Questions
Does バブー always mean the baby is happy?
Mostly yes, it represents neutral or happy babbling, but it can occasionally be used for light complaining. It is rarely used for genuine distress.
Can adults use it?
Yes, adults might use it jokingly to imitate a baby or tease someone who is acting childishly.
Is it only written in katakana?
It is most commonly written in katakana (バブー), but hiragana (ばぶー) is also acceptable and looks even softer visually.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2842618
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
- Previous entry
- ばさっと (basatto)
- Next entry
- バブバブ (babubabu)