harrumph
noun & verb

- a noisy clearing of the throat

- to clear the throat audibly in a self-important manner

Oxford Languages / Merriam-Webster

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WORD ORIGIN

The exact etymology of "harrumph" is a bit unclear, but it appears to have originated in the early 20th century as a representation of the sound one makes when clearing the throat. It's often associated with a haughty or pompous attitude, as if someone is making a sound of self-importance or condescension.

While its origins are somewhat uncertain, the word has become a colourful and informal expression in the English language.

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MORE PRIMAL SOUNDS

- chortle = laut auflachen, glucksen

- chuckle = kichern

- coo = gurren

- giggle = kichern

- groan = stöhnen

- guffaw = lachen, prusten

- hiss = zischen

- jeer = höhnen, spotten

- mutter = murren

- murmur = murmeln

- purr = schnurren

- sigh = seufzen

- snicker = kichern, schmunzeln

- snarl = knurren

- snort = schnauben

- titter = kichern, tuscheln

- whine = jammern

According to some researchers, the first human languages developed from onomatopoeia, that is, imitations of sounds in nature, in particular those of animals.

Sceptical of such explanations, the German philologist Max Müller created a humorous typology of interjections involving barking dogs, nasty smells, and ringing bells: the "bow-wow theory", the "pooh-pooh theory", and the "ding-dong theory".

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SYNONYMS

The core synonyms convey the sense of a guttural throat-clearing sound expressing disapproval or irritation. Related words imply different tones of harsh vocalization, grumbling, or emphatic complaining:

ahem, bark, bellow, bluster, bray, Bronx cheer, clearing of the throat, complain, cough, crow, fuss, fulmination, gnash, gripe, grouch, grumble, grunt, growl, gulp, HARRUMPH, humph, rail, raspberry, roar, scold, snarl, sniff, snuffle, snort, splutter, throat-clearing

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