ざわめき

ざわめき is the noun form of ざわめく (to murmur, to buzz with activity). It describes the collective sound and atmosphere when many people are talking, reacting, or moving about.

Common collocations

• ざわめきが広(ひろ)がる: a murmur spreads
• ざわめきが静(しず)まる: the commotion dies down
• ざわめきが起(お)きる: a stir arises
• 街(まち)のざわめき: the bustle of the city
• 教室(きょうしつ)のざわめき: classroom chatter

Related words

Derived from ざわざわ, which evokes the sound and feel of restless commotion or unease.

Similar words

• がやがや: noisy chatter (more casual, louder)
• 騒(さわ)ぎ: commotion, disturbance (stronger, implies disruption)
• 喧騒(けんそう): clamor, din (formal/literary)

Register

Slightly literary. Common in narrative prose, news, and descriptive writing.