The word borborygmic means “pertaining to rumblings in one’s tummy or intestines.” It derives from borborygmus (“bor-buh-RIG-muss”), a term for intestinal rumbling and a vivid example of onomatopoeia. Its bubbly B sounds make borborygmic especially fun to say aloud, and it’s the kind of concrete, playful word that can help children get excited about language. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Borborygmic Means Rumbling in the Stomach or Intestines”
Grant, here’s a word for you. Do you know the word borborygmic?
I don’t know what that means.
It comes from the Greek word borborygmus, which means the rumbling in one’s intestines.
So you might speak of a borborygmic sound.
And the reason that I bring up the word borborygmic is because the other day somebody was saying, are there words that I can teach my children to get them really interested in language, intriguing them?
And I just remember this word is one that little kids learn to love, you know, because they have a word for that rumbling in their intestines besides rumbling in their intestines.
Borbarygmic.
And it sounds like what it is.
Borbarygmic.
Don’t you think?
Borbarygmic.
Yeah, the B sounds in particular are very appealing to children.
Yeah, I think so.
Well, if you’ve got a word that you like to say aloud, give us a call and tell us about it.
The number is 1-877-WAYWORD.
That’s 1-877-929-9673.
Or email us. The address is words@waywordradio.org.
