List Of Animal Sounds and Their Spellings.

Today, we’re embarking on an exciting exploration into the world of animal sounds. Have you ever wondered why a dog’s bark sounds different in English compared to other languages?

Or why learning these sounds is more than just fun, but also a key step in language development, especially for young learners?

We have a list of over 60 animal sounds here for you with their spelling and how to actually make them with English sounds ( to the best of our ability of course!!)

your classroom may never be silent again if you put this up on the wall.

Which reminds us, we have this as a download as well in case you just want to do just that!

you can find the full list of animal sounds to download it after the list on the page below.

List Of 60 + Animal Sounds and Their Spellings.

Let’s dive into this list of animal sounds and then after that we can discover their role in language and learning.

Animal	Spelling of the Sound	How to Say (Non-Phonetic)
Alligator	hiss	hiss
Antelope	Snort	hurr ghh
Ape	ooo aaaa	Oo-oo-aa-aa
Bear	Roar	Rawwwwwr
Bee	Buzz	Bzzzz bzzzz
Bird	tweet, chirp	tweeeeet, tweeeet
Cat	Meow	Meeee-owww
Chicken	Cluck	Bok-bok-bok
Cow	Moo	Moooooo,
Crow	Caw	kaw-kaw
Dog	Bark	Ruff, Ruff
Duck	Quack	Kwak-kwak
Dolphin	Click	Eek-eek
Donkey	Bray	Hee-haw
Elephant	Trumpet	Brrr, paaaa woooo
Eagle	Screech	Eee-eee
Frog	Ribbit	Ribbit
Fox	Bark/Howl	Wah-wah
fly	buzzzz	zzzzz zzzz
Goat	Bleat	mehhhhhhh
Goose	Honk	Hooonk-hoooonk
Horse	Neigh	Neeigh
Hen	Cluck	Bok-bok-bok
Ibis	Honk	Honk-honk
Insect	Buzz	Bzzzz
Impala	Snort	Snort
Jaguar	Roar/Growl	Rrrr
Jackal	Howl, yelp	A-Ruh A Ruh
Jay	Squawk	wark, wark
Jellyfish	who knows!	blub?
Kangaroo	Grunt	Ugh-ugh
Koala	Scream	ahhh
Kitten	Meow	Mee-ow
Lion	Roar	Rawaaaa Rawaaa
Lamb	Ba Ba	Mehhhh Mehhh
Lemur	Ehhh Ehh	Eee-eee
Monkey	Gibber	Oo-oo-aa-aa
Mouse	Squeak	Eek-eek
Moose	Moose	Muuuh
Mosquitoes	Hum	mmmmmm mmmmm
Owl	Hoot	hoooo hooo
Ostrich	Hiss	hssssss hssss
Otter	Whistle	weee weee
Parrot	Squawk	bwark, bwark
Pig	Oink	horrrk, horrk
Pigeon	coo	koooo koooo
Rooster	Crow	Cock-a-doodle-doo
Raccoon	Trill	rrrrrr trrrrrrr
Sheep	bleat	m’aiiir, maiiir
Snake	Hiss	ssssss sssss
Squirrel	Chatter	chik, chik
seal	Honk, bark	a-ruhhh a -ruhh
Tiger	Growl	Grrrrr, grrrr
Turkey	Gobble	Gobble Gobble
Toucan	Squawk	bwark, bwark
Unicorn	Don’t know but bet its great	like a rainbow for the ears
Vulture	Screech	wreeek, wreeek
Wolf	Howl	ah woooo
Walrus	Arrr-arr	Arrr-arr
Whale	Sing	warrrrahuu,
Xerus	Squeak	Eek-eek
Yak	moo	moooooh
Zebra	whinny, neigh	huhhhhhru

You can download this list of Animal sounds and their spellings on the link below.

Wild Animals Animals Reading Comprehension Worksheets Kindergarten and Grade 1+ – Editable

The Importance of Animal Sounds in Language Learning

Animal sounds are often among the first sounds children learn to recognize and mimic.

This isn’t just adorable; it’s incredibly beneficial for their language development.

When children learn to say “moo,” “baa,” or “meow,” they are not just learning to associate sounds with animals; they’re also developing their phonetic awareness.

This early sound recognition is a foundational skill in learning to speak and, eventually, to read.

By playfully imitating these sounds, children start understanding the concept of sound patterns, which is crucial when they begin learning phonics and the alphabet.

For English language learners, animal sounds offer a unique and engaging way to understand English phonetics, making the process both fun and educational.

The song below is an awesome way to introduce both the sound and the phonic behind them!

A Worldwide Tour of Animal Sounds

Did you know that the sound of a rooster crowing is spelled and interpreted differently across various cultures?

For instance, in English, it’s “cock-a-doodle-doo,” while in French, it’s “cocorico.”

This variation is not just about language differences; it’s about how cultures perceive and interpret sounds.

Exploring these variations provides a glimpse into the diverse world of onomatopoeia – words that phonetically imitate the sound they describe.

It’s a great way to appreciate the diversity of languages and to understand that there’s more than one way to hear and interpret the sounds around us.

The Phonics of Animal Sounds

Let’s get a bit technical here. Animal sounds are a fantastic tool for teaching various phonetic concepts.

For example, the “quack” of a duck emphasizes the consonant blend ‘qu’, while the ‘moo’ of a cow demonstrates the long ‘oo’ sound.

These sounds help in teaching letter recognition and are a stepping stone to developing early reading skills.

For educators and parents, using animal sounds is an effective method to introduce young learners to the world of letters and words in a context that is familiar and engaging.

It’s a natural bridge between informal learning and formal education.

Fun Activities and Games with Animal Sounds

Engaging with animal sounds can be a delightful and educational experience, especially for young learners. Here are some fun activities and games to enhance their learning journey:

1. Sound Matching Game: Create cards with animal pictures and separate cards with their corresponding sounds. Mix them up and ask children to match the animal with its sound. This activity not only teaches them about animal sounds but also sharpens their memory and matching skills.
2. Animal Sound Charades: A classic game of charades but with animal sounds! One person acts out or mimics the sound of an animal, and others guess which animal it is. This game is fantastic for group play and encourages children to think creatively.
3. Storytelling with Sounds: Incorporate animal sounds into storytelling. As you read a story, pause and ask the children to make the sounds of the animals mentioned. It makes the story more interactive and immersive.
4. Craft Your Own Animal Sound Book: Engage children in creating their own animal sound book. They can draw animals, write the sound next to each, and even attempt phonetic spellings. This activity nurtures creativity and reinforces their learning.
5. We have reading materials and games and of course the ever present worksheets for these as well and we have linked them in the text here, but also in the article to encourage you to buy some from us and help us keep going!

The best, most cost effective way ( teacher dollar’s need to be stretched we know) of getting these games is to pick up the 300 plus page mega bundle which is pretty much everything on the site! It has reading sets, games, phonics and more. You can check that out on the link below.

7 English Workbook Mega Bundle

These activities are not just educational; they’re a gateway to a world of fun and interactive learning, making the process of understanding animal sounds and language more engaging and memorable.

Conclusion

It’s clear that these sounds are more than just fun tidbits of knowledge, and a great lesson!. They are essential building blocks in language learning, especially for young minds mastering phonics and developing language skills.

Animal sounds offer a playful yet powerful way to understand the nuances of pronunciation, spelling, and the diverse ways sounds are interpreted across languages and cultures.

Whether it’s through games, storytelling, or creative activities, these sounds open up a world of learning opportunities.

So next time you hear a child imitating a roaring lion or a buzzing bee, remember, they’re not just playing; they’re learning a language, one sound at a time.

Animals Match and Color Worksheets