にょろにょろ

にょろにょろ
adverb, onomatopoeia
slithering; wriggling; squirming
descriptive
1. slithering; wriggling; squirming along
A mimetic word (擬態語(ぎたいご)) for the smooth, twisting movement of a long thin creature such as a snake, eel, or worm — and by extension for anything long that moves the same way.
蛇(へび)がにょろにょろと動(うご)く。
The snake slithers along.
細(ほそ)い虫(むし)が土(つち)の上(うえ)をにょろにょろ這(は)っていた。
A thin worm was wriggling along on the soil.
草(くさ)の間(あいだ)から何(なに)かがにょろにょろと出(で)てきて、子(こ)どもたちは驚(おどろ)いて逃(に)げた。
Something came slithering out from between the grasses, and the children ran off in surprise.

Almost always used of living things that have no legs. The image is unsettling more often than not, so にょろにょろ carries a faint shudder that neutral うねうね does not.

Common patterns

Similar words

  • うねうね: winding — a fixed shape that curves, not a creature in motion
  • くねくね: winding, wriggling — sharper bends; also used of a person swaying
  • ぬるぬる: slimy — about the surface feel, not the movement

Related Words

Compare: うねうね (winding)
Compare: くねくね (winding, wriggling)
Compare: ぬるぬる (slimy)
general
Added 2026.8.2 0:17 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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