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グラッと (ぐらっと) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

グラッと

ぐ

ら

っ

と

Meanings

1

adverb

shaking violently; with a jolt

onomatopoeic or mimetic word

Mimetic adverb describing a sudden, strong shaking or swaying motion, often of large objects or structures.

地じ震しんで家いえがグラッと揺ゆれた。
The house shook violently in the earthquake.
バスがグラッと揺ゆれて、立たっている人ひとが倒たおれそうになった。
The bus jolted, and the standing passengers nearly fell over.

Written forms

グラッと
Katakana spelling is common for this mimetic adverb.
グラっと
Variant katakana spelling with small-tsu written as full-size つ.

Similar words

ぐらぐら
ぐらぐら describes a continuous or repeated shaking, while グラッと emphasizes a single, sudden jolt.
ガタッと
ガタッと is used for a sharp, rattling noise or impact, often of smaller objects, whereas グラッと implies a heavier, more massive swaying.

Etymology

Mimetic word; the exact origin is uncertain, but it belongs to a family of onomatopoeic adverbs beginning with ぐら/グラ that express unsteady or shaking motion.