Neigh - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

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SKIP TO CONTENT neigh /neɪ/ /neɪ/ IPA guide

Other forms: neighing; neighed; neighs

The sound that a horse makes is called a neigh. A horse's happy neigh is sometimes a greeting to other horses.

You can use neigh to talk about the noise your horse makes, also known as a whinny or a bray. Neigh is also a verb: horses neigh cheerfully or in frustration, and your little brother might like to ride a broomstick wildly around the house and neigh. The word comes from the Old English hnægan, which is most likely imitative of the actual sound of a neigh. In other words, it's an example of onomatopoeia — when a word sounds like what it means.

Definitions of neigh

verb make a characteristic sound, of a horse synonyms: nicker, whicker, whinny see moresee less type of: emit, let loose, let out, utter express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words)
noun the characteristic sounds made by a horse synonyms: nicker, whicker, whinny see moresee less type of: cry the characteristic utterance of an animal

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