Sounds Vocabulary in English
Learn 125 English words and expressions for sounds, voices and noises. Read simple English clues, listen to pronunciation, hide words for practice, study flashcards and test yourself with a quiz.
Nouns
| English clue | English word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Something you can hear | sound | |
| The sound made when someone speaks or sings | voice | |
| A sound, especially one that is unwanted or unpleasant | noise |
Adjectives
| English clue | English word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Making little or no noise | quiet | |
| Soft and not harsh | gentle | |
| Loud and clear, often echoing | resounding | |
| Shaking or unsteady | trembling | |
| Strange or unusual | weird | |
| Making a clear bell-like sound | ringing | |
| Clear, loud and echoing | resounding; ringing | |
| Reducing echoes by taking in sound | sound-absorbing | |
| Relating to sound or sound waves | sonic; sound ... | |
| Making a lot of noise | loud | |
| Deep and empty-sounding | hollow | |
| Low and not clear or sharp | dull | |
| Pleasant to listen to, like a melody | melodious; tuneful | |
| Sounding like metal being struck | metallic | |
| Repeating the same sound without variety | monotonous | |
| So frightening that it makes you shiver | spine-chilling | |
| Faster than the speed of sound | supersonic | |
| Rough and unpleasant to hear | harsh | |
| Extremely loud | deafening | |
| Loud, sharp and unpleasant | strident | |
| Suggesting danger or something frightening | sinister | |
| Very high and piercing | shrill | |
| Sharp and intense enough to hurt your ears | piercing | |
| Enjoyable to hear | pleasant | |
| Bright and happy in tone | cheerful | |
| Loud and clear, often echoing | resounding | |
| Extremely loud and uncomfortable | ear-splitting | |
| Difficult to hear because it is not strong | weak; faint | |
| Soft and pleasant to hear | sweet | |
| Made quieter or less clear by something in the way | muffled | |
| Difficult to explain or identify | mysterious | |
| Continuing for a long time without stopping | persistent | |
| Serious and formal in tone | solemn | |
| Attractive and inviting in tone | seductive | |
| Shaking quickly back and forth | vibrating | |
| Having a high frequency or tone | high-pitched | |
| Rough and scratchy to hear | rasping |
Verbs
| English clue | English word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| To make the cry of a sheep or goat | to bleat; to baa | |
| To strike together with a sharp sound | to clash | |
| To make a continuous low sound | to drone | |
| To make or produce an audible noise | to sound | |
| To make a bubbling sound, like water | to gurgle | |
| To make a low humming sound, like a bee | to buzz | |
| To breathe with a rough whistling noise | to wheeze | |
| To scatter liquid with a noise | to splash | |
| To breathe noisily while asleep | to snore | |
| To make a sharp sound when biting or crushing | to crunch | |
| To make a short, low sound from the throat | to grunt | |
| To make a short, high sound like a small bird | to chirp | |
| To rub or scrape a surface with something sharp | to scratch | |
| To make a bell-like sound | to ring; to jingle | |
| To produce noises that can be heard | to emit sounds | |
| To make a series of short knocking sounds | to rattle | |
| To hit something with a heavy dull sound | to thump | |
| To make the characteristic call of a turkey | to gobble | |
| To make a high musical sound by blowing air | to whistle | |
| To make a low sound of pain or unhappiness | to groan; moan | |
| To fall in small drops, often making a sound | to drip | |
| To draw air sharply through the nose | to sniff | |
| To strike your hands together to show approval | to clap; to applaud | |
| To make repeated hard, sharp noises | to clatter | |
| To hit with an open hand, making a sharp sound | to slap | |
| To make a rough call like a crow | to caw; to croak | |
| To make the sound of a duck | to quack | |
| To make the short call of a hen | to cluck | |
| To make the sound of a cat | to miaow | |
| To speak or make a low, soft sound | to murmur | |
| To copy a sound or another person | to imitate | |
| To cough lightly before speaking | to clear one's throat | |
| To force air noisily through the nose | to snort | |
| To make the loud call of a rooster | to crow | |
| To make a long, high cry | to squeal | |
| To make a short, high-pitched sound | to squeak | |
| To fall into water with a small splash | to plop | |
| To hit lightly, making a short sound | to tap | |
| To make a very loud, deep cry | to bellow | |
| To make the low vibrating sound of a contented cat | to purr | |
| To make a deep, rough call like a frog | to croak | |
| To make a deep call like a cow (source spelling retained) | to moa; to law | |
| To make a deep, powerful cry | to roar | |
| To make a soft, high call like a horse | to whinny | |
| To make the characteristic call of a horse | to neigh | |
| To breathe in suddenly with a short sound | to gasp | |
| To make a short, sharp cry, often from pain | to yelp | |
| To drag something across a surface noisily | to scrape | |
| To make a loud, sharp, unpleasant cry | to screech | |
| To make a hissing sound while frying | to sizzle | |
| To pay attention to sounds | to listen to | |
| To notice sounds with your ears | to hear | |
| To bring your foot down heavily | to stamp | |
| To make a sharp sound with your fingers | to click one's fingers; to snap one's fingers | |
| To make an explosive noise from an engine | to back-fire | |
| To hit lightly, making a short sound | to tap | |
| To make a long sound like escaping air | to hiss | |
| To sing with a series of changing notes | to warble | |
| To make the sound of a dog | to bark | |
| To make a soft sound like moving leaves | to rustle | |
| To make a steady low buzzing sound | to hum | |
| To make a series of light bird calls | to twitter | |
| To make a deep call like an owl or horn | to hoot | |
| To shut a door with a loud bang | to slam (the door) | |
| To make a long squeaking sound, like an old door | to creak | |
| To make a series of light, quick footsteps | to patter | |
| To make the short repeated sound of a clock | to tick | |
| To hit or close something with a loud noise | to bang | |
| To make a low threatening sound | to growl | |
| To speak sharply or make a sudden cracking noise | to snap | |
| To make a soft continuous mechanical sound | to whirr | |
| To make a long, loud cry like a wolf | to howl | |
| To produce a sound with your voice | to utter (a sound) | |
| To make a heavy, dull sound on impact | to thud | |
| To shout to show disapproval | to boo | |
| To breathe out audibly from tiredness or relief | to sigh | |
| To make a sudden very loud sound | to blast |
Expressions and phrases
| English clue | English word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| A light, delicate ringing sound | tinkle of a bell | |
| A loud, harsh ringing sound | clang of a bell | |
| The clear sound of metal money striking something | ring of a coin | |
| A sudden loud warning noise | blast of a siren | |
| A loud, harsh brass-instrument sound | blare of a trumpet | |
| Musical sounds of different pitches | tones of music | |
| Something you say when it is extremely noisy | I can't hear myself thinking | |
| An expression for an extremely loud noise | loud enough to wake the dead |
Flashcards – practise vocabulary
Read the English clue, guess the word, then reveal the answer or listen to pronunciation.
English clue
Quiz – 10 questions
Read the English clue and type the matching word or phrase. Each correct answer earns one point.
Which word matches this clue?
