Use borborygmus for the specific bowel sound, especially in medical, biological, or precise descriptive writing.
Use borborygmus for the specific bowel sound, especially in medical, biological, or precise descriptive writing.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The old truck made a borborygmus up the hill. | The old truck made a rumble up the hill. |
| Her borborygmus were loud after lunch. | Her borborygmi were loud after lunch. |
| Borborygmus is the gas released from the body. | Borborygmus is the sound of gas moving in the intestines. |
Use borborygmus figuratively only when the image of a gut rumble is deliberate and vivid.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The phone made a borborygmus when it rang. | The phone made a buzzing sound when it rang. |
| The crowd gave a happy borborygmus. | The crowd gave a happy cheer. |
| The poem uses borborygmus for silence. | The poem uses borborygmus for an uneasy rumble. |
Use borborygmus first for bowel sounds, and use the figurative sense only when the digestive image is part of the effect.
Borborygmus is used for ordinary mechanical noise, but the word normally points to intestinal rumbling.
From New Latin borborygmus, from Ancient Greek borborygmos, an imitative word for rumbling in the bowels.
What does borborygmus mean?
Borborygmus means a rumbling, growling, or gurgling sound made by movement in the intestines.
What is the plural of borborygmus?
The traditional plural is borborygmi.
Is borborygmus a medical term?
Yes. It is used in medical contexts for bowel sounds, though it also appears in precise general writing.
Is borborygmus the same as flatulence?
No. Flatulence is gas being passed, while borborygmus is the sound of gas and fluid moving inside.
Can borborygmus be figurative?
Yes, but only rarely, for a low rumble or disturbance that deliberately suggests digestive noise.
How is borborygmus pronounced?
A common pronunciation is /ˌbɔːrbəˈrɪɡməs/.