What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
cooing
Example
The mother cooed to her baby to calm him down. [cooed: verb]
Example
The doves were cooing in the tree outside my window. [cooing: gerund or present participle]
murmuring
Example
The students were murmuring amongst themselves during the lecture. [murmuring: verb]
Example
The murmuring of the river was a peaceful background noise. [murmuring: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Murmuring is more commonly used than cooing in everyday language. Murmuring is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while cooing is less common and refers to a specific type of soft, gentle sound.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between cooing and murmuring?
Both cooing and murmuring are relatively informal words, but murmuring can be used in more formal contexts, such as literature or poetry, to convey a sense of quietness or intimacy.
