むしゃむしゃ

Onomatopoeia type

Giseigo - mimetic word representing sound (the sound of eating).

Usage

むしゃむしゃ is used with:

• 〜食(た)べる - to eat
• 〜と食(た)べる - to eat (with quotative と)

Implies

• Eating with enthusiasm/appetite
• Eating something that makes a crunchy or chewy sound
• Eating heartily, sometimes messily
• Often used for children or animals eating

Similar onomatopoeia

• もぐもぐ - chewing with mouth closed (more polite)
• がつがつ - eating greedily, wolfing down
• ぱくぱく - eating quickly, gobbling
• もりもり - eating heartily (often large amounts)
• ばりばり - crunching (hard/crispy foods)

Register

むしゃむしゃ can sound cute when describing children or animals, but may sound crude when describing adult eating.
Casual. Common in everyday conversation, children's books, and descriptions of eating.