The human voice and other sounds – B2 English Vocabulary

The human voice and other sounds

In this B2 Pre-advanced Vocabulary Lesson about the Human Voice and Other Sounds, you will learn various terms to describe different types of noises and actions related to both human and non-human sounds. Check the pictures, definitions, and example sentences below to understand these terms better.

Human voice sounds

1 If you whisper, you speak very softly and quietly, often directly into someone’s ear, so that only one person can hear you.

• The girls were whispering to each other at the back of the classroom.

2 If you hum, you sing a tune or melody with your lips closed.

• Mary hummed as she dusted the shelves.

3 If you scream, you make a loud, high-pitched noise, usually because you are scared, hurt, or excited.

• Anna screamed when she saw the masked man in her living room.

4 If you yell, you shout loudly, usually because you are angry, excited, or trying to get someone’s attention.

• The child was yelling for his mother because his sister had taken his toy.

5 If you sob, you cry noisily and breathe in short breaths, usually because you are very sad or upset.

• Nina was sobbing loudly, and I was unable to comfort her.

6 If you mumble, you speak quietly and not clearly, usually because you are nervous or not confident.

• Please stop mumbling; I can’t hear what you’re saying.

7 If you murmur, you speak very softly and quietly, often so others can barely hear you.

• Fran murmured a reply quickly, but I didn’t catch what it was.

8 If you grumble, you complain in a low voice, usually because you are annoyed or unhappy.

• The students grumbled when the teacher told them they’d be having a test.

9 If you moan, you make a long, low sound, usually because you are in pain or unhappy. Children tend to moan when their parents tell them to do something they don’t want to do.

• “I don’t want to clean my room. I did it yesterday,” moaned the child.

10 If you groan, you make a deep, long sound. People groan to express physical pain, discomfort, or frustration. Groaning can also indicate annoyance or disappointment.

• The child was clutching its sore stomach and groaning in pain.

11 If you snicker, you laugh quietly and often in a disrespectful or mocking way.

• The children snickered cruelly when the actor forgot his lines.

12 If you chuckle, you laugh quietly and softly to yourself. A person may chuckle when someone says something that only they find amusing.

• I couldn’t help chuckling when the child recounted his version of the story.

13 If you stutter, you speak with repeated sounds or words, usually because you are nervous or have a speech problem.

• Mike was very nervous and stuttered as he introduced himself.

14 If you sigh, you breathe out loudly and slowly, usually because you are tired, relieved, or disappointed.

• After finishing her long essay, Sara sighed loudly.

15 If you pant, you breathe fast and loudly, usually because you have been exercising or doing something tiring.

• After running up the hill, Sarah was panting, trying to catch her breath.

16 If you yawn, you open your mouth wide and breathe in deeply, usually because you are tired or bored.

• She couldn’t stop yawning during the long, boring lecture.

Non-human sounds

1 If something rattles, like a loose window or a snake’s tail, it makes a quick succession of short knocking sounds. Items made of metal and wood often rattle when they come in contact with another hard object.

• The strong wind caused the shutters to rattle against the wall.

2 A thud is a dull, heavy sound. If something thuds, like a falling book or a heavy object hitting the floor, it makes a dull, heavy sound.

• I heard a loud thud as the melon rolled off the table and onto the hard floor.

3 A click is a short, sharp sound. If something clicks, it makes a short, sharp sound like a light being turned on and off. You may also hear a clicking sound when someone is typing on a computer.

• I heard the light click on in the next room and realised Fred was home.

4 A beep is a short, high-pitched sound. If something beeps, like an alarm clock or a microwave, it makes a high-pitched sound. Drivers usually beep when they’re annoyed or when they want someone to move out of the way.

• The driver beeped their horns at the car blocking the car park exit.

5 A hiss is a long, sharp sound. If something hisses, like a snake or escaping steam, it makes a prolonged sound like that of a snake. Cats often hiss when they’re angry, as do geese and other animals.

• When I heard the snake hiss, I knew I was in trouble.

6 A thump is a loud, heavy sound. If something thumps, like a heavy object falling to the floor, it makes this type of sound. If you thump something, you hit it hard, usually with your fist. Also, when your heart thumps, it beats strongly and quickly, usually because you are afraid or excited.

• I was woken by the sound of someone thumping on the door.

7 A bang is a loud, sudden, explosive noise, often caused by an explosion. If something bangs, it makes this type of noise.

• We heard a loud bang when the door slammed shut.

8 A clatter is a series of loud, sharp sounds. If something clatters, like dishes or metal objects falling, they make a series of loud, sharp noises as they hit a surface or each other.

• The cutlery in the box clattered as I carried it into the new house.

9 A pop is a quick, explosive sound. If something pops, like a balloon or bubble, it makes this type of sound when it bursts.

• Sara cried loudly when her sister popped her balloon.

10 A crackle is a series of short, repetitive spitting noises. If something crackles, like a fire or a radio with static, it makes these types of sounds.

• We stood around the bonfire, listening to the crackling logs.

11 A tap is a light, quick sound. If you tap something, like a pencil on a desk, your fingers on a keyboard, or your feet on the floor, you make this type of sound.

• I wish you’d stop tapping your foot on the floor. It’s very annoying.

12 A splash is the sound made when something hits or moves in water. When something splashes, it causes water to fly up in droplets, creating a loud, wet sound.

• The children laughed as they jumped into the pool, causing a big splash.

After completing the exercises in this lesson on the Human Voice and Other Sounds, you can use the unit’s Vocabulary Flashcards to revise and help you memorize the terms.