Giraffe Sounds

What sound does a giraffe make?

For centuries people thought giraffes were nearly silent — but they do make sounds! Giraffes snort, grunt, and hiss during the day, and scientists recently discovered that at night, giraffes produce a low, gentle humming sound, possibly to keep in touch with the herd in the dark.

Baby giraffes are more vocal: calves bleat and mew to call their mothers. Because giraffe voices are so deep and quiet, much of their communication may happen at frequencies too low for human ears.

About the Giraffe

Giraffes are the tallest land animals in the world, with adult males reaching heights of up to 18 feet. Their long necks, which can be up to 8 feet in length, allow them to reach leaves and buds in tall trees that other animals can't access. Giraffes have a unique locomotion called 'pacing', where they move both legs on one side of their body at the same time. Despite their height, giraffes have the same number of neck vertebrae as humans - just seven. They are social animals, living in loose herds, and communicate with various vocalizations that are often too low for humans to hear.

Giraffe questions

What sound does a giraffe make?

Giraffes snort, grunt, and hiss — and at night they hum! The low humming was only discovered by scientists in 2015, and calves bleat to their mothers.

Why are giraffes so quiet?

With such long necks, pushing enough air past their vocal cords is hard work, and giraffes rely a lot on eyesight. Much of their sound may also be too low for humans to hear.