Human voice: speaking quietly or emotionally

• whisper to speak very softly so only one or two people nearby can hear you. They whispered so quietly that nobody else in the room could hear.
• hum to produce a tune with your mouth closed. She hummed her favourite song while washing the dishes.
• mumble to speak unclearly and too quietly, so people find it hard to understand you. He mumbled his answer, and the teacher had to ask him to repeat it.
• murmur to speak in a very soft voice, almost under your breath. She murmured a quick apology and left the room.
• grumble to complain in a low voice because you are annoyed or unhappy. The students grumbled when they heard there would be another test.
• moan to make a long, low sound because you are in pain or not happy about something. “Do I really have to?” he moaned when his parents asked him to help.
• groan to make a deep sound to show pain, frustration or disappointment. He groaned in pain and held his injured leg.
• sob to cry noisily, taking short, sudden breaths. She sat on the sofa, sobbing so hard she could hardly speak.

Human voice: loud sounds, laughter & breathing

• scream to give a loud, high sound because you are frightened, hurt or very excited. People screamed when they saw the fire spreading.
• yell to shout very loudly, often because you are angry or need someone’s attention. He yelled her name across the crowded station.
• snicker to laugh quietly in a disrespectful or unkind way. The boys snickered when their classmate got the answer wrong.
• chuckle to laugh softly, often to yourself. She chuckled at the silly joke in the message.
• stutter to speak with repeated sounds or pauses, often because of nerves or a speech problem. He stuttered slightly as he introduced himself to the group.
• sigh to breathe out slowly and loudly, showing tiredness, relief or disappointment. She sighed with relief when the exam was finally over.
• pant to breathe quickly and loudly after exercise or effort. He reached the top of the stairs panting heavily.
• yawn to open your mouth wide and breathe in deeply, usually because you are tired or bored. She couldn’t stop yawning during the long meeting.

Non-human sounds: objects & machines

• rattle to make a series of short, hard knocking sounds. The loose window rattled every time a bus went past.
• thud a heavy, dull sound made when something solid hits the ground. There was a loud thud as the box fell off the shelf.
• click a short, sharp sound, like a switch or button being pressed. I heard the door lock click behind me.
• beep a quick, high sound, often made by machines or devices. The microwave beeped to show that the food was ready.
• hiss a long, sharp sound, like steam or an angry animal. We heard gas hissing from somewhere behind the oven.
• thump a loud, heavy hit or sound, often from something striking a surface. I woke up when someone thumped loudly on the door.
• bang a sudden, very loud noise, like a door slamming or a small explosion. There was a bang as the car backfired in the street.

Non-human sounds: repeated & liquid sounds

• clatter a series of loud, sharp sounds when hard objects hit each other. Plates clattered in the kitchen as the waiter dropped the tray.
• pop a short, explosive sound made when something bursts. The balloon popped and made the baby jump.
• crackle many small, dry, snapping sounds, like a fire burning. We listened to the logs crackling in the fireplace.
• tap a light, quick hit that produces a soft sound. She tapped her fingers on the desk while she waited.
• splash the sound of something hitting water and making drops fly. There was a big splash as the children jumped into the pool.

Tips for using these verbs

Many of these verbs are very expressive and often appear in stories, novels and listening tasks. Notice which ones describe how we speak (whisper, mumble, grumble), which show emotion (sob, groan, chuckle), and which are mainly used for non-human sounds (rattle, hiss, crackle, splash). Choosing the right verb helps you create a clear, vivid picture for the reader or listener.