11 Words For The Sound Made While Eating

Sometimes, we might want to describe a sound in our writing. The term onomatopoeia applies to such cases, and it would help to know more about it. This article will explore some of the best words used to describe the sound made while eating.

Which Words Can Describe The Sound Made While Eating?

There are plenty of good choices we can work with here. Why not check out one of the following to see which suits you best:

• Munch
• Crunch
• Slurp
• Gobble
• Chomp
• Guzzle
• Om nom nom
• Smack
• Champ
• Chew
• Gnaw

The preferred version is “munch.” It works well to try and replicate a loud eating noise that most people can’t avoid when they are enjoying their food. It might also be a sign of bad table manners, so be careful with this one!

Munch

“Munch” works well when we want to show that someone is making a loud noise while eating. It often comes with negative connotations because it reflects poor table manners. It’s linked to someone not closing their mouths while eating.

The definition of “munch,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “to eat something, especially noisily.”

You might not know this, but eating doesn’t have to be a loud action. In fact, many people can eat in silence with no problem. If someone complains about the noises you make while eating; you might have a problem you need to work on.

Here are some examples:

• Munch! Munch! You keep opening your mouth to eat, and I hate it!
• Can you stop munching now, please? It’s no longer funny, and it’s putting me off.
• I can’t stand it when you munch like that!

Crunch

“Crunch” is a great way of describing a sound similar to “munching.” It often means that someone is eating without closing their mouth, and the loud noises coming from them can be prevented by just learning a thing or two about table manners.

The definition of “crunch,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “to crush hard food loudly between the teeth, or to make a sound as if something is being crushed or broken.”

Like “munching,” it is not ideal to “crunch” your food. In most cases, there is no reason why you should ever make noises while eating. It is a mainly quiet activity, and no one wants to hear you while you’re eating your food.

Check out some of these examples to see how it works:

• I didn’t mean to crunch! I’ll learn to shut my mouth in the future because I can see it upset you.
• Sorry, but do you have to keep crunching? I’ve never been so repulsed by someone eating like that before.
• You’re gross! Stop crunching and just close your mouth. It’s really not that difficult to do.

Slurp

“Slurp” works well when someone is having a particularly wet or liquid-based item to eat. If they are constantly making slurping noises, it means that they are trying to almost “drink” their food. The noises can be pretty offputting for many people.

The definition of “slurp,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “to drink a liquid noisily as a result of sucking air into the mouth at the same time as the liquid.”

Check out some of these examples to see how we might use this one:

• I didn’t mean to slurp like that! Sorry, but I was just blown away by how good this tasted.
• He keeps slurping, but he’s eating pizza. I don’t understand where all of that wet stuff is coming from.
• She’s pretty gross when she eats. I can’t bear the constant slurping that comes out of her mouth.

Gobble

“Gobble” is a good word to show that someone is eating quickly. It would seem like they’re eating non-stop (without even allowing themselves a chance to catch their breath). It’s a bad habit to get into, and the noises can be quite unseemly.

The definition of “gobble,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “to eat food too fast.”

Here are some examples to help you with this one:

• Gobble! Gobble! Gobble! It’s like nobody ever taught you table manners, you filthy man!
• Stop gobbling down your food! It’s not going to go anywhere. Be patient with it, and savor the taste.
• Do you have to keep gobbling? It’s not like I’m planning on stealing your food from your plate!

Chomp

“Chomp” is a great way to show that someone is eating loudly. Often, the noises they make are obnoxious and difficult for the people around them to ignore. You can solve a “chomping” sound by closing your mouth, but too many people ignore this fact.

The definition of “chomp,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “to chew food noisily.”

Here are a few examples to help you with it:

• I wish you didn’t have to chomp. I honestly don’t know who taught you to eat like that.
• Do you mind chomping like that in front of me? It’s actually disgusting.
• I’ve just been put off my food by the number of chomps coming from your general direction!

Guzzle

“Guzzle” works well when you want to show that someone is eating more liquid-based foods. Things like sauces and soups work well to “guzzle” because the noise you make is similar to the sound of someone drinking quickly.

The definition of “guzzle,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “to drink quickly, eagerly, and usually in large amounts.”

You can use this word as follows:

• Would you quit guzzling that food for a second? I can’t even hear myself think.
• I wish you didn’t have to guzzle like that. It’s definitely the one thing I cannot stand about you.
• Please close your mouth while eating and stop with the guzzling noise!

Om Nom Nom

“Om nom nom” is a funny phrase that people use when they’re enjoying food. While it doesn’t specifically relate to a sound they make, it works well to emphasize that they understand that noises are a part of eating (and you can’t avoid them).

Check out some of these examples to see how you might use it:

• Om nom nom! I love me some lasagna on a Monday evening!
• Om nom nom! I can’t get enough of this; thank you for making it!
• Om nom nom! Wow, this is remarkable. You’ll have to give me the recipe!

Smack

“Smack” works well to describe the sound that occurs when someone smacks their lips together. This is something that happens when people choose to eat with their mouths open rather than keeping them closed. It’s a sign of bad habits or manners.

The definition of “smack,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “to hit something hard against something else.”

These examples will help you to understand this one:

• You keep smacking your lips like that, and I’ll smack you around the face!
• Stop smacking your lips. It’s not polite, and I’m sure I raised you to be better than that.
• Do you mind smacking your lips while you eat? I can’t stand that sound.

Champ

“Champ” is identical to “chomp” from an earlier section. We can use it to show that someone is being particularly noisy with how they eat. Often, they keep their mouth open while champing away, which is where the gross noises come from.

The definition of “champ,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “to chomp.”

Here are a few examples to help you with this one:

• You keep champing away at that food, little man. Eventually, you’ll get through it all.
• Stop with all those awful champ noises! I can’t stand them, and I really wish you’d listen to me.
• Okay, do you have to champ so loudly? That’s actually repulsive!

Chew

“Chew” works well when someone is eating food for a longer period. It works to show that they’ve had food in their mouths for a while, and they’re taking longer to swallow it. Usually, this comes with a noise that sounds very wet and unappetizing.

The definition of “chew,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “to crush food into smaller, softer pieces with the teeth so that it can be swallowed.”

Here are a few examples to help you with it:

• Chew! Chew! Chew! That’s all I ever hear from you, and I hate it.
• Stop chewing so loudly! I’ll never understand how you learned to eat like that.
• I really wish you didn’t have to chew the way you do. I can’t stand it!

Gnaw

“Gnaw” works well when you want to show that someone or something is biting into something repeatedly. It often comes with its own distinct sound that isn’t all that similar to any of the other ones we’ve included in this list.

The definition of “gnaw,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “to bite or chew something repeatedly, usually making a hole in it or gradually destroying it.”

Check out these examples to see how it works:

• The gnawing noises that I could hear coming from the attic were terrifying last night.
• Stop gnawing like that! You’re going to give me a headache.
• I really wish you wouldn’t gnaw on your food; it’s such an obnoxious noise!