Certain words in the English language represent animal sounds: the noises and vocalizations of particular animals, especially noises used by animals for communication. The words can be used as verbs or interjections in addition to nouns, and many of them are also specifically onomatopoeic.

List of animal sounds

PictureAnimalDescriptionAudio recording
Alligatorbellow, hissAlligator bellow
Alpacaalarm call, cluck/click, hum, orgle, scream
Antelopesnort
BadgergrowlBadger
Batscreech, squeak, eekBats
Bearroar, growlBear cub growl
BeebuzzHummel bee Xylocopa pubescens (carpenter bee) offsprings
Big cat (Tiger, Lion, Jaguar, Leopard)roar, growl, snarlTiger growl Jaguar making a content "sawing" sound.
Bisonbellow, moo, low
Camelgrunt
Capybarasqueak, chatter, bark
Catmew, meow, purr, hiss, trill, chirp, chatter, caterwaul, growl, mrrp, nyaCat meow Domestic cat purring
Cattlemoo, low
Chickencluck, buck, crow cha-caw, bah-gawk (female) cock-a-doodle-doo (male)Rooster crowing
Chinchillasqueak
CicadachirpCicada
Crabchirp, click, creak[better source needed]
Cranetrumpet, bugle
CricketchirpCricket
Crowcaw, cahBlack Crow
Crocodilehiss, growl
Curlewpipe
Deerbellow, bell (buck), bleat (doe, fawn)Red deer
Dogarf, bark, boof, bay, howl, growl, snarl, moan, whine, whimper, yelp, scream, sigh, sneeze, woof, yip, yapDog bark
Dolphinclick, whistle, squealDolphins calling
Donkeyhee-haw, brayDomestic donkey brays
DuckquackMallard Duck
EaglescreechBald Eagle
Elephanttrumpet, snort, rumble, growl, roarElephant trumpet
Elkbugle (male), bleat (calves)Elk bellow
Ferretdook
Fishbrrp, click, blub, glub, honk
Flybuzz
Foxbark, scream, howl, snore, geckerFox scream
Frogcroak, ribbit, chirpPacific tree frog
Gaurlow, moo
Giraffebleat, humGiraffe hum
Goatbleat, maaHerd of goats bleating
Goosehonk, hissGeese Honking
GrasshopperchirpGrasshoppers chirping
Guinea pigwheek
Hamstersqueak
HawkscreechHawk screeching
Hermit crabchirp
Hippopotamusgrowl, grunt, snort
HornetbuzzHummel bee
Horseneigh, whinny, nicker, hoofbeats (clip-clop)
HyenalaughSpotted Hyena
Jackalgecker
Koalabellow, shriek
Laughing kookaburralaugh
Lemurchatter, whoop
Leopardroar, growl, snarl
Linnetchuckle
Lionroar, growl, snarlLion roar
Lizardhiss
Locustchirp
MagpiechatterMagpie
Meerkatbark
Monkeyscream, chatter, gecker, howlMantled Howler Monkey (Alouatta palliata)
Moosebellow
Mosquitobuzz, whine
Mousesqueak
Okapicough, bellow
Opossumclick, growl, hiss
Owlhoot, hiss, caterwaul for barred owls, twit twoo for tawny owlsGreat horned owl
Oxlow, moo
Parrotsquawk, talkWhite-capped Parrot Rose-ringed Parakeet imitating human speech
Peacockscream, squawk, honkPeacock
Penguinchirp, honk, trumpet, bray
Pigoink, snort, squeal, gruntPig
PigeoncooWood pigeon
Prairie dogbark
QuailcallCall of a male common quail
RabbitsqueakRabbit
RaccoontrillBaby Raccoon Chatter
Ratsqueak
Ravencaw, cronkCommon Raven
River otterblow, chatter, chirp, creek, grunt, hiccup, hiss, scream, squeak, swish, whine, whistle, chatterchirp, purr
Rookcaw
Sealbark
Sheepbleat, baa, maa, meh (lambs)Sheep
Snakehiss, rattleRattlesnake
Songbirdchirrup, chirp, tweet, sing, warble (larks / warblers / wrens), twitter (sparrows)Goldfinch
Squirrelsqueak
Swancry, trumpet, bugleTrumpeter swan
Tapirsqueak
Tokay geckocroakTokay gecko mating call
TurkeygobbleWild Turkey
Turtlegrunt (mating), hiss
WhalesingHumpback whale Sperm whale
Wild boargrowl, grumbleWild boar
Wildebeestlow, moo
Wolfhowl, growl, bayWolf howls
Zebrabray, bark, whistle, yip, nicker

See also

External links

  • Derek Abbott, University of Adelaide