kizazi-ld:

This is just a little reference for myself (and anyone else who wants to use it) about the various sounds lions can make. I have seen a lot of misinformation about what sounds lions can make and a lot of people who treat them like Warrior Cats and think that they sound like house cats. 

First, a few facts….

1. Lions do not purr: not in the same way that small cats do. This is because their throats are shaped differently.
2. Lions can only make sounds when exhaling unlike small cats, which can make continuous sounds.
3. Lions have a wide range of vocal sounds, but they are different than a small cat. They are usually rougher, deeper sounds.

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s share some lion sounds!

Roaring – This is the iconic lion sound. However, roaring is far more flexible and nuanced than people generally think. Roars can be low and soft to bond and communicate to the pride or deep and loud to warn away other lions. Roars are also used to establish the boundaries of territories.

Chuffing/Puffing – A ‘chuff’ or ‘puff’ is a low, soft sound used in friendly greetings. It is a soft ‘pfft’ sound most of the time and made by the lion basically snorting gently through the nostrils.

‘Woofing’ – A lion ‘woofs’ when it is startled. It’s a sort of grunting huff that basically means ‘what’s that?’ or ‘who is that?’ if they see something they are not sure of or surprised by.

Grunting/Rumbling – Lions frequently grunt to ‘talk’ to each other. Much like a house cat ‘talks’ to their owner and makes little ‘comments’, lions do the same with grunts and rumbles.

Meows/Mews – Mews are normally cubs and kittens. When lions get older, they can ‘meow’ but it is a much louder, more guttural sound than a house cat makes. Like all cats, they can ‘meow’ in different volumes and each lion has their own distinctive voice.

Growl/Snarl – Normally accompanied by showing teeth, growls and snarls are signs of anger and aggression. Growls are usually quieter and more warning while snarls are often a ‘watch out, I’m about to attack you!’ sound.

Humming – According to recent studies, humming is basically the lion’s version of purring. It serves the same purpose as a purr; a friendly and affectionate sound. However, it is different because it is made in a different way and can only be done when exhaling. Unlike house cats which can purr continuously, a hum can only be made when the lion is exhaling so it tends to stop-and-start.