Learn English – What types of sounds do cars make

single-word-requestsverbsword-choice

What words can be used to describe the sound a driving car makes? I'm specifically looking for words that could apply to a standard 2000 Honda Civic, or comparable vehicle.

"Roar" sounds too powerful.

"Whir" sounds like a word you'd use to describe an electric fan.

It'd also be absolutely amazing if the word could be used in place of "roar" in the phrase "the car roared to life."

Best Answer

Vroom is really the specific onomatopoetic word for the sound of a car starting up. According to some sources it is cross-linguistic.

There are many options, though. Depending on connotations desired, in rough mild-to-wild order, "The car [ blank ] to life":

  • Came
  • Spun (up)
  • Cranked
  • Whispered
  • Purred
  • Whirred
  • Hummed
  • Chortled
  • Stuttered
  • Sputtered
  • Whined
  • Coughed
  • Buzzed
  • Rumbled
  • Grumbled
  • Growled
  • Snarled
  • Revved
  • Zoomed
  • Vroomed
  • Screamed
  • Roared
  • Blasted
  • Thundered
  • Detonated
  • Exploded

My favorite is: The car grumbled to life.

Some of these feel a little awkward, but can be improved by rephrasing, such as "the car came to life with a quiet whine." Or perhaps "When he turned the key, the car briefly chortled, then began to purr."

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