ぞろぞろ

• Reading: ぞろぞろ
• Romaji: zorozoro
• Pronunciation: /zo.ɾo.zo.ɾo/

Meaning

In a crowd; in droves; in a stream; one after another in succession.

A mimetic adverb (擬態語) depicting a continuous flow of people or things moving in a group. Often used with 出てくる (to come out), 歩く (to walk), or 並ぶ (to line up). Conveys the image of an unbroken procession, sometimes with a slightly humorous or overwhelming nuance. Can also describe things like insects or items emerging one after another.

Examples

1. コンサートが終わると観客がぞろぞろ出てきた。 When the concert ended, the audience poured out in a steady stream.
2. 観光客がぞろぞろと商店街を歩いていた。 Tourists were walking through the shopping street in droves.
3. 会議室から社員がぞろぞろ出てくるのが見えた。 I could see employees filing out of the conference room one after another.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, events, crowds

Tone: descriptive

Origin & History

A Japanese onomatopoeia (擬態語) whose voiced consonants ぞ evoke the heavy, continuous movement of a group. The reduplication indicates sustained, repetitive motion. Related in pattern to other movement mimetics like のろのろ (sluggishly).

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal