bleat

Meaning

Noun

The characteristic cry of a sheep or a goat.

Verb

1. Of a sheep or goat, to make its characteristic cry of baas; of a human, to mimic this sound.
2. (derogatory, informal) Of a person, to complain.
3. (derogatory, informal) Of a person, to say things of little importance to the listener.

Synonyms

baa

bray

whine

bellow

bleating

growl

squeal

moo

neigh

blat

roar

whinny

blate

gripe

bitch

complain

call

grumble

cry

😢

vociferate

whimper

hoot

shout

snivel

trumpet

🎺

utter

yell

breathe heavily

nit-pick

quetch

blubber out

cause to bleat

bawl

beef

blubber

bugle

call out

carp

chirp

croak

cry out

grizzle

grouch

grouse

howl

laugh

😆

make a sound

meow

mew

mewl

Translations

bêler

balar

belare

blöken

blaten

βελάζω

βέλασμα

bêlement

balir

balken

brullen

belato

grommen

balare

balido

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈbliːt/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: bleten

Inherited from Old English: blǣtan

Cognate with Scots: blete

Cognate with Western Frisian: bâlte

Cognate with Dutch: blaten

Cognate with Low German: bleten

Cognate with German: blaßen

In summary

From Middle English bleten, from Old English blǣtan (“to bleat”), from Proto-West Germanic *blātijan, from Proto-Germanic *blētijaną (“to bleat”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₁- (“to howl, cry, bleat”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“to make a loud noise”).
Cognate with Scots blete, bleit, West Frisian bâlte, blaaien, blêtsje (“to bleat”), Dutch blaten (“to bleat”), Low German bleten (“to bleat”), German blaßen, blässen (“to bleat”).