he could hear the sound of a helicopter

[alpacinou]

How can I describe the sound from a helicopter?

He could hear the....of a helicopter in the distance.

 

[Amigos4]

There are many ways to describe the sound of a helicopter. Try this link for some examples.

 

[emsr2d2]

"whir/whirring" is the first thing that springs to mind.

 

[Tarheel]

I like chucka chucka chucka.
:-D

 

[Tarheel]

How can I describe the sound of a helicopter?

He could hear the....of a helicopter in the distance.

It's going to sound different when it's far off than when it's close. I might say whirr. (There are some interesting suggestions at that website.)

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

"whir/whirring" is the first thing that springs to mind.

That's too soft and smooth for my ears. They make a real racket.

 

[emsr2d2]

That's too soft and smooth for my ears. They make a real racket.

Post #1 says "in the distance". I wouldn't say they make a huge racket from that far away.

 

[alpacinou]

Post #1 says "in the distance". I wouldn't say they make a huge racket from that far away.

What would you say if the chopper was close?

I was having breakfast when I hear the....of a helicopter. A massive chopper was flying above my apartment.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Post #1 says "in the distance". I wouldn't say they make a huge racket from that far away.

We get them over our house all the time. Whir doesn't seem low enough, rhythmic enough, or aggessive enough.

 

[emsr2d2]

We get them over our house all the time. Whir doesn't seem low enough, rhythmic enough, or aggressive enough.

I completely accept that the noise above your house would be very loud but that doesn't change the fact that post #1 clearly says "in the distance", so we still need to find a word that describes the distant sound of a chopper's blades/engine.

 

[Tarheel]

What would you say if the chopper was close?

I was having breakfast when I hear the....of a helicopter. A massive chopper was flying above my apartment.

I like chop chop chop or chucka chucka chucka.

 

[Amigos4]

I was having breakfast when I hear the....of a helicopter. A massive chopper was flying above my apartment.

I'll go with dubdubdubdubdubdubdubdubdubdubdubdub! ;-)

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Or:

- whump-whump-whump

- womp-womp-womp

- wokka-wokka-wokka

- chackity-chackity-chackity

. . . or James Thurber's immortal pocketa-pocketa-pocketa.