If you’ve searched “what sound does a giraffe make” expecting a simple answer like a roar or a bark, here’s the honest truth: giraffes are among the quietest large mammals on Earth, and for decades scientists genuinely thought they were mute. They do make sounds, including grunts, snorts, coughs, and soft calf bleats, but their most surprising vocalisation is a low, humming noise recorded only at night, discovered by researchers who spent nearly 1,000 hours listening to zoo giraffes.
Below, we’ll go through every sound a giraffe actually makes, the science behind why they’re so quiet, the nighttime humming discovery, and where in the UK you can go and listen for yourself.
What sound does a giraffe make? The short answer
Giraffes make a range of soft sounds rather than one signature call. These include low grunts, sharp snorts, hisses, coughs, moo-like sounds, and a mysterious low hum that only happens after dark. What they don’t do is roar, bark, or make any single dramatic sound the way a lion or elephant does, which is exactly why so many people assume they’re silent.
Why giraffes are so quiet in the first place
The main reason comes down to anatomy. A giraffe’s trachea (windpipe) stretches over 3 metres long in an adult, and producing sound means pushing enough air through vocal cords at the end of that entire length. Combined with a comparatively narrow airway and modest lung capacity relative to their size, this makes vocalising physically harder for a giraffe than for most animals.
That doesn’t mean they can’t make noise. Giraffes do have a functioning larynx and vocal cords, so the old idea that they’re mute is a myth, just one that’s easy to believe given how rarely you’ll hear one in daily life.
The everyday sounds giraffes make
During the day, giraffes rely mostly on body language, ear movement and neck posture to communicate, which is part of why they seem silent in typical zoo visits. When they do vocalise, it tends to fall into a few categories:
- Grunts: short, guttural sounds usually signalling unease or mild discomfort
- Snorts: forceful exhalations through the nostrils, often used as a warning or to ward off a threat
- Hisses: a sharp burst of air through the nostrils when a giraffe feels threatened
- Bleats and moos: softer sounds, particularly from younger giraffes calling to their mothers, or exchanged during close contact between herd members
Male giraffes also grunt or make belch-like sounds during dominance fights or mating behaviour, which is one of the more audible contexts in which you might catch a giraffe vocalising if you’re watching closely.
The nighttime humming discovery
This is the part that surprises most people. In 2015, researchers from the University of Vienna published a study in BMC Research Notes after recording 22 giraffes across three European zoos, Berlin Tierpark, Copenhagen Zoo, and Vienna Zoo, collecting over 947 hours of audio. The recordings captured a distinct humming vocalisation happening only at night, harmonic and sustained, with an average frequency of around 92 hertz.
That’s a genuinely unusual finding, since it means giraffes are producing tonal, controlled sounds that hadn’t been documented before, and only during hours when nobody was around to notice them by chance. The researchers weren’t able to confirm exactly what the humming does, though one working theory is that it helps herd members stay aware of each other’s location when it’s too dark to rely on their otherwise excellent eyesight.
Do giraffes make infrasound like elephants?
For years, many assumed giraffes might communicate using infrasound, sound below 20 hertz and inaudible to humans, similar to elephants. The 2015 Vienna study specifically tested for this and found no evidence of infrasonic vocalisations in the giraffes they recorded. The humming they detected, at roughly 92 hertz, sits well above the infrasound threshold and is technically audible to humans, even if it’s easy to miss.
It’s worth being upfront that this research was done in zoo settings, so there’s still genuine uncertainty about whether wild giraffes behave the same way, and the study’s own authors called for further investigation rather than treating the question as settled.
Where to hear giraffes in the UK
If you want to try and catch one of these sounds yourself, several UK zoos and safari parks keep giraffe herds you can visit. Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire, the UK’s largest zoo by area, is home to a family of reticulated giraffes and welcomed two new calves in late 2025, born on 18 November and 21 December. General admission runs from around £31.40 for adults, according to recent UK zoo pricing.
Other UK locations with giraffes include Chester Zoo, London Zoo, Longleat Safari Park, Marwell Zoo near Winchester, and Flamingo Land, several of which run bookable giraffe feeding experiences where you’ll get close enough to potentially hear a grunt or snort during feeding. Prices and availability for these experiences change fairly often and typically need booking in advance, so check the specific zoo’s website before planning a visit.
Realistically, the nighttime hum documented in the 2015 study isn’t something you’ll hear on a daytime visit, since it was only recorded after dark in a controlled research setting. What you’re more likely to catch on a normal zoo trip is a grunt, snort, or a calf’s soft bleat, particularly around feeding time.
FAQs
What sound does a giraffe make?
Giraffes make grunts, snorts, hisses, coughs and soft bleats during the day, plus a distinct low hum recorded only at night in a 2015 University of Vienna study, at an average frequency of about 92 hertz.
Are giraffes actually silent?
No, that’s a myth. Giraffes have vocal cords and can produce sound, but their long trachea and narrow airway make vocalising physically harder than it is for most animals, which is why they’re heard so rarely.
Do giraffes make infrasound?
Research from 2015 found no evidence of infrasonic communication in the giraffes studied, contradicting an earlier assumption based on similarities to elephants, though scientists say further study is still needed.
Why do giraffes hum at night?
The exact purpose isn’t confirmed, but researchers suspect the humming may help herd members track each other’s location in the dark, since giraffes rely heavily on eyesight during the day.
Do baby giraffes make sounds?
Yes. Calves make soft, high-pitched bleating or moo-like calls, particularly when looking for their mother, and these are among the more audible giraffe sounds you’re likely to hear.
Where can I see giraffes in the UK?
UK zoos and safari parks with giraffe herds include Whipsnade Zoo, Chester Zoo, London Zoo, Longleat Safari Park, Marwell Zoo and Flamingo Land, several of which offer bookable feeding experiences.
Do giraffes roar or make loud calls?
No. Unlike lions or elephants, giraffes don’t have a single loud, dramatic call, which is part of why so many people assume they’re completely silent.
How was the giraffe humming discovered?
Researchers from the University of Vienna recorded 22 giraffes across three European zoos for over 947 hours, and identified the humming specifically in nighttime recordings using specialist audio equipment.
