Man, that hit the spot!
March 1, 2019 1:22 PM

What do you call that noise people make in the back of the throat to show that they enjoyed a drink? It's an outbreath (exhalation) that begins with a glottal stop. I figure there should be a name in order to easily describe it to a deaf person, study it scientifically or script it in a screenplay. So... does it have a name?
posted by serena15221 to Grab Bag (12 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
Is there a specific name for it in English? What I'm thinking of is a "grunt of appreciation".
posted by Selena777 at 1:27 PM on March 1, 2019


What's wrong with a "voiceless 'Aaahhhhh!'"
posted by Liesl at 1:30 PM on March 1, 2019


Are you referring to that little "aaaahhhhhhh" that some people do after sipping a beverage?

I've always mentally thought of it as above. "Aaaaaaahhhh". Though I agree this is a problem because it's not the same "aaaaaahhhh" sound as someone saying, "Ah, I thought I recognized you!" or "Aaaaah! A ghost!" or the long satisfied sigh "Aaaaaaahhhhhhh!" of someone enjoying a relaxing Sunday afternoon on the couch. Though I guess it's related to the latter?

There are a few sitcoms that have talked about this as an annoying habit in other people (I'm specifically thinking of a Seinfeld episode, but I think there are more). I'm curious how this noise was described in those scripts?
posted by the milkman, the paper boy at 1:35 PM on March 1, 2019


Satisfied sigh.
posted by zamboni at 1:39 PM on March 1, 2019


The "aaaahhhh" is preceded by a glottal stop, but I'm not sure how you'd properly describe the combined sound.

Previously: For the Encyclopedia of Annoying sounds
posted by chromium at 3:16 PM on March 1, 2019


Urban Dictionary calls it a drink reflex (obviously it’s not an actual reflex).

I call it fingernails on a chalkboard.
posted by Pax at 3:20 PM on March 1, 2019


"Ahh" or "sigh" were my first thoughts, too. The weird thing is that you can do either of those with or without the glottal.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 4:00 PM on March 1, 2019


*gulp* "ahh!" is how I'd do it
posted by The otter lady at 6:01 PM on March 1, 2019


See this question on AskMeFi, from last year.
posted by alex1965 at 6:50 PM on March 1, 2019


It's a voiceless low, back vowel, which as you note, can be preceded by a glottal stop.
posted by lilies.lilies at 7:44 AM on March 2, 2019


I see satisfied sigh has been used as a crossword clue and a possible answer is "AAH". I like that but it doesn't quite fit for me but "thirst quenching sound" seems too wordy. So I am following this thread. Because I make that sound and so does a baby in my family and I really like it. It is my OM.
posted by cda at 2:10 PM on March 2, 2019


I have always called it the Time of the Season sound.
posted by armeowda at 4:39 PM on March 2, 2019


« Older Easy Python graphics with SVG output?   |   Pain in the neck project Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.