Michael Not only animal sounds are in English are fundamentally different from German, as mentioned before in Rundbrief 07/2006, but also the onomatopoeic descriptions for all sorts of sounds. For example, when someone clears their throat, it is written as "Harumph!" (pronounced "huh-rumph!"). If a hammer comes crashing down on something in a comic strip to flatten it, "Thud!" is written in large letters next to it. The squealing tires of an accelerating car make "Wheee", a sound also used by excited children sliding down a slide or sarcastically by adults feigning enthusiasm: "Whee, I got a watch for 10 years of service!"
The word "Ka-boom!" simulates, as one might imagine, an exploding explosive device, and is also the name of a cleaning product: Kaboom It is excellent for cleaning away dark spots on the tile joints of the shower cabin.
If someone finds something disgusting, they make the sound "Eew," which corresponds to the German "Iih." If a speaker temporarily doesn't know what to say next, they fill the pause in German with "äh" but in English, it's written as "Umm".
Umm ... and that's it for now. Best regards from California!
Angelika & Michael