The 'oo' sound in particular

[zneeze]

Something I was pondering recently, and I thought I'd ask all of you:

Is there something nicer or better to you about the 'oo' (whether it be choo, shoo, etc.) at the end of a sneeze as compared to an 'ih,' 'esh,' or 'eee' (girls) for example?

This is not to be mistaken with the "spoken 'choo'" which I know many of us dislike. More like a normal-sounding "Ha-choo!" compared with a "Heh-eshh!" Any thoughts?

[Anonymouse]

My favorite sneezes have that 'oo' ending. Usually those are the more drawn-out and desperate ones, from my experience. There are a couple of guys on Bondi's wav page who really drag the 'oo' out at the end and it sounds wonderful. It just rounds out the sneeze nicely, if that makes any sense.

[VoOs]

I'm partial to sneezes that end with an "ah"-sound, for some reason. I don't like the distinct "ooh" that much, and I often prefer two-syllable sounds, ending with a "-sch!" or "-ngh!".

[zneeze]

AnonyMouse - yes, it makes sense Probably more than my original post

VoOs - this is actually exactly why I asked, I wanted to see if anyone else had a different sound they liked the best Thanks to both of you! (But keep the posts coming of course )

[The Mute Poet]

Over the years I've actually found that I prefer the first syllable of the sneeze much more than the second. Typically it just seems like that is much more often the one affected by allergic sneezing, and as time has gone on it seems it matters less and less what sound the sneeze finishes on if it has a good, desperate primary syllable.

That said, a girly "ooo" is tough to beat, but I think can be outdone by a few of the exceptionally rarer endings like "koo" "schah" or "yoo". Also if the second half of the sneeze fades into an allergic-sounding sigh than any distinct ending sound.

Man, this is way too much fun to think about... good topic.

[Vetinari]

I'm partial to sneezes that end with an "ah"-sound, for some reason. I don't like the distinct "ooh" that much, and I often prefer two-syllable sounds, ending with a "-sch!" or "-ngh!".

You know, it interested me that I always ended in "ooo", but when I was driving home from norskkurs where I had been speaking Norwegian all the time, if I sneezed then "ah" was the ending that just happened. Bizarre but true.

As for the original query .... well I do prefer vowels on the end. I'm not so keen on the ones that end with 'esh" for example. That said, the vowels have to follow sh or ch or similar. "A'hoo" just doesn't generally do it for me.

[murphy dee]

I looooooove a good, loud "chhooo!" at the end of a guy's sneeze. There's something really powerful and masculine about it to me. I also like "schh!" sounds at the end too, but not as much as the "choo!"

[vote_for_pedro]

I work with a girl who has major cedar allergies, and she does this half stifle thing that always ends with that "oooh" sound. It's not the dreaded spoken choo, either. It's more like a very noticeable and pronounced exhale after a semi-successful stifle. Know what I mean? I think it's hot as hell. I love working with her! Especially this time of year

[Chanel_no5]

If it's part of a real sneeze, and not like an after-thought - as in the spoken choo - I like it.

ETA: I do prefer sneezing to end with either -"aah" or "-uhh", or just the spray... But as long as it's a real sneeze and not something that's obviously "added" to it, I like it.

Edited April 22, 2011 by Chanel_no5

[Joal 555]

That said, a girly "ooo" is tough to beat

Seconded! These can take many forms but are definitely my favourite part of the sneeze. I also LOVE a spoken "choo", I didn't realise that some others found it annoying.....but each to his/her own.

[Sneesee]

Honestly, as long as the sound fits the person, I will love it. However, I do have a soft spot for three syllable sneezing, such as "huh-ehh-shoo," or "huh-ehh-shuh."

[King_of_the_ruins]

If it's part of a real sneeze, and not like an after-thought - as in the spoken choo - I like it.

ETA: I do prefer sneezing to end with either -"aah" or "-uhh", or just the spray... But as long as it's a real sneeze and not something that's obviously "added" to it, I like it.

this is my sentiment exactly. I also go through phases where sometimes i like the "ooo" sound more, and other times i like the "esshh" sound more.

Spray sound ALWAYS gets me hot.

[PaperThings]

Well... I hate harsh sneezes. Not harsh as in desperate, but harsh as in those loud and obnoxious "HA-ESH!" types. Probably because they remind me of my dad's.

So, this might kind of be an odd answer, but if a sneeze is soft, then "Ha-Esh" is probably my favorite sound. However, if it's any louder at all, I prefer the "oo" sound on the end because, even if those sorts of sneezes are loud, they sound a tiny bit gentler to me. Plus, I think i just think it's that major thing that separates between a sneeze and a cough, and I detest coughing.

[Nova]

I like the "-esh"es a lot. Anything "sh"-y is very nice to me (especially coming from a man, I think I'm less picky with the women). They sort of force themselves out. I think that Oos can sound so... deliberate? Even if they're not that spoken choo, it feels like someone knew what they were doing and, I don't know, it annoys me a little. Vowels in general are more difficult to get spot on than the consonants. But I like things that starts with esh too. And ends with that ah.

Yes.

Mm.

[Shay]

I guess I'm a big fan of the "oo" endings as well, but I also like ones that end in an "uh" sound like "hehh-shuhh" for example. I guess the "uh" ending just makes me imagine that the person might be trying to restrain the sneezes somewhat without actually stifling them, which can really be appealing to me sometimes though I'm not sure why.

[Sitruuna]

Hmm...

If I'd have to spell out a sneeze, I'd spell it something like "hh-tch" or so... I definitely like those "-tch" and "-esh" kind of ending more than "oo"s. Like Nova said, they sound like they've forced their way out. Besides it feels nicer (in my opinion) to sneeze the way that the sound comes out like that. A lot nicer. And the messy sounds are rarely those that end with oo. Also... If there's any sounds resebling r and x... Yum<3

But really, I can't put those nice sounds into letters and type them here, no. Never. They are in my head, and they'll stay in my head. ._. No spelling can imitate the sound well enough! xD (And I still think that different people "hear" the sound that those spellings are meant to express differently if they only see the spelling... D: )

[count tiszula]

I love a really good "Ooo" myself. Not too exaggerated of course, but I do appreciate the classic sneeze sounds such as ATISHOO and my current favourite, the simple ACHOO. You just can't beat the classics.

And, after a minute study of various sneeze vids, I conclude that OOO is the "natural" way to terminate a sneeze. It really does seem that the mouth naturally half-closes so that the extra large breath is expelled through rounded lips.

[The Mute Poet]

And, after a minute study of various sneeze vids, I conclude that OOO is the "natural" way to terminate a sneeze. It really does seem that the mouth naturally half-closes so that the extra large breath is expelled through rounded lips.

But then there's been talk of that only applying to English-spoken sneezes as well. If we believe the Asian animes, person-for-person "Hak-shi" might be the most common sneeze globally, to say nothing of "atchoume" and whatever the Russian variant that currently slips my mind was.

We could almost start a sort of "sneeze linguistics" study here given all the amazing possibilities...

[Sitruuna]

"Hak-shi"

That. That si clearly spelled with an "ä"... Or so my mind it sees... And as to add to what Mute just said, here the most common would probably be this "äkshi" kind of thing... The vocal in the begining being very faint or simply an inhale... And the "i" in the end is pretty mcuh the same, faint or missing, sometimes there the way "oo" seems to bee in the sneezing videos of youtube.

[haeeshoo]

I do not really care for vowels during sneezing. The more "sh" or "tsh" the better for me.

[cheech]

yes, the oo sound is much better- in my opinion anyway. i cant stand "ish" endings.