English Reference

Word

choo

Phoneticschoo

/ˈtʃu/

Definition

interj. the sound people make to imitate a steam train. You might say this when playing with children or talking about old engines.

interj. an onomatopoeic representation of the sound produced by a steam locomotive. Frequently doubled as 'choo-choo' in child-directed speech.

Examples

“The little boy pointed at the train and said choo.”

“The children lined up behind their teacher and made a loud 'choo' sound as they pretended to be a train.”

“While modern electric trains hum quietly, the classic steam engine is still immortalized in children's literature by the rhythmic 'choo' of its exhaust.”

Examples

simple

“The little boy pointed at the train and said choo.”

contextual

“The children lined up behind their teacher and made a loud 'choo' sound as they pretended to be a train.”

complex

“While modern electric trains hum quietly, the classic steam engine is still immortalized in children's literature by the rhythmic 'choo' of its exhaust.”

Usage

Often used as a reduplicated form ('choo-choo') which can function as a nursery noun for a train.

This entry

Level
A1 · Beginner
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

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English Reference