Sound Charades

Make the noise on the card with no words and no gestures, and let the room guess.

Sound Charades

A fire engine going past

Make the sound: no words, no gestures.

1 of 132

Next step The full deck of charades ideas

How it works

This sound charades generator turns the game around: the room guesses from a noise, not from acting. Cards run from A rooster at dawn to A washing machine on spin and Bagpipes warming up.

Read the full guide

One way to play, in three steps

The guessers shut their eyes, or the sound-maker stands behind them. Press Next card and make the noise with mouth, hands or feet: no words and no gestures. A right guess scores a point, then the phone moves on. Other houses play it other ways.

Six kinds of noise

Before the first card, press Topic. Animals is the easy way in. Machines at home and Vehicles and sirens need a sound that changes, such as A fire engine going past. Hard cards are quiet or layered: Ice cracking on a pond, A sailboat at its mooring. The full list suggests how to make each one.

Tips
  • Agree first whether doorbell is enough for A doorbell, rung twice.
  • One try at the noise, then one repeat if the room asks.

Questions and answers

How is sound charades different from charades?

In charades the actor performs in silence, and humming, clapping and other noises may be banned as well. This version reverses that: noise is the only clue, and miming is out. It is a house variant, so agree on the rules first.

Which sounds are easiest to start with?

Animals on Easy: A rooster at dawn, A cow in a field, A donkey braying. In People, no words, A sneeze building up and Snoring in the next room need no practice at all.

Can we play against the clock?

Yes. Press Play a 1-minute round before the first card. One player makes noise after noise for their team, pressing Next card after each right guess, until time is up.

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All 132 sounds

Animals 22

  • A bee near your ear A hum through closed lips that comes close and moves away.
  • A cat purring on a lap A soft, steady roll at the back of the throat.
  • A cow in a field One long, low moo that sags at the end.
  • A cricket after dark A thin chirp with the tip of the tongue, in steady pairs.
  • A donkey braying A squeaky breath in, then a low honk out.
  • A duck with ducklings Flat quacks with a pinched nose.
  • A frog at dusk A deep croak, then a plop with a cupped hand.
  • A horse trotting Slap your knees in a clip-clop, then blow air through loose lips.
  • A monkey in a tree Fast oo-oo-ah-ah, getting higher.
  • A mosquito in the dark A thin whine through your teeth, then a slap.
  • A pig at the trough Short snorts through the nose.
  • A pigeon on a ledge A low coo that rolls, then wings flapping with two hands.
  • A rooster at dawn Three rising notes and one long one, head thrown back.
  • A seal on a rock Short barks while clapping the backs of your hands.
Show all 132 sounds (118 more)

Animals, continued

  • A sheep calling its lamb A wobbly baa from the back of the throat.
  • A snake under a log One long hiss between your teeth.
  • A turkey in the yard A fast gobble made by wobbling your tongue.
  • A whale far below A long, slow moan that slides up and down.
  • A wolf on a hill One long howl that climbs and falls.
  • A woodpecker at work Rap one knuckle on a table in fast bursts.
  • An elephant trumpeting Blow a blast through pressed lips with one arm as the trunk.
  • An owl hooting twice Two soft hoots, then a long one, through rounded lips.

Machines at home 22

  • A blender on high A growl that jumps to a high whirr and cuts out.
  • A clock ticking in a quiet room Click your tongue, one tick a second.
  • A coffee maker finishing Gurgles and hisses that slow to a last sputter.
  • A dishwasher changing cycle A slosh, a click and a new, lower hum.
  • A doorbell, rung twice Two notes, high then low.
  • A dripping faucet One pop of the lips every two seconds.
  • A hair dryer on full A loud rush of air through your teeth, waved from side to side.
  • A lawn mower that needs three tries Two failed pulls, then a roar that settles.
  • A microwave finishing A long hum, then three beeps.
  • A phone buzzing on a table A rattle through closed lips in three short bursts.
  • A printer printing one page A whirr, a grind from side to side, and a soft drop.
  • A sewing machine in bursts A rapid tick-tick-tick that starts and stops with your foot.
  • A squeaky door A slow creak from the back of your throat.
  • A toaster popping A quiet wait, then a spring and a ping.
  • A vacuum cleaner on a rug A steady roar that rises when you push and drops when you pull.
  • A washing machine on spin A hum that speeds up until your whole voice shakes.
  • A whistling kettle A low rumble that turns into a rising whistle.
  • A zipper on a tent A long buzz that rises as it closes.
  • An alarm clock at six Fast beeps that will not stop, then a slap.
  • An electric toothbrush A high buzz that goes muffled, then clear again.
  • One loud floorboard in a hallway One creak, a pause, a slower creak.
  • Popcorn in a pan One pop, a few more, then a storm of pops that dies away.

Vehicles and sirens 22

  • A balloon pilot firing the burner Silence, a long roar of flame, then silence again.
  • A bicycle bell behind you A bright ring-ring with the tongue.
  • A car horn in traffic Two short honks and one long one.
  • A car that will not start A cough, a churn, another cough, then nothing.
  • A cart behind a horse Clip-clop on your knees with a rattle of wheels behind it.
  • A fire engine going past A siren that rises and falls and fades down the street.
  • A garbage truck on its round A growl, a hiss of brakes, a crash and a whine.
  • A helicopter overhead Fast pops of the lips that get louder, then softer.
  • A motorbike pulling away Twist a throttle and growl up through the gears.
  • A race car passing A whine that swoops from high to low as it goes by.
  • A sailboat at its mooring Ropes tapping a mast and water slapping a hull.
  • A ship's horn in fog One very long, very low note.
  • A skateboard on pavement A long rolling rumble with a clack at each crack.
  • A squeaky shopping cart A steady roll with one wheel that squeals each turn.
  • A steam train leaving Slow chuffs that speed up, then a long whistle.
  • A subway arriving A far rumble, a rush of wind, a screech and a chime.
  • A tractor crossing a field A slow, loose chug with a rattle in it.
  • A train crossing Ding-ding-ding, then a rumble that shakes your voice.
  • A truck backing up Slow, even beeps and a low engine.
  • An airplane taking off A rumble that climbs to a roar and thins out.
  • Oars on a rowboat A creak, a splash and a drip, in a slow rhythm.
  • Wipers on a wet windshield A squeak one way and a thump back, over a steady patter.

Weather and nature 20

  • A babbling brook A light, bubbling gurgle that never stops.
  • A branch snapping A slow creak and a sharp clap.
  • A crackling campfire Tiny clicks of the tongue and one loud pop.
  • A geyser going off Bubbling, a pause, then a whoosh that falls as patter.
  • A howling gale A long oo that climbs and rattles a window.
  • A pebble down a well A long silence, a tiny plink, and you lean in to hear it.
  • A rockslide One clack, a few more, then a rolling rumble and a last clack.
  • A stream over stones A steady trickle with small plops.
  • A volcano rumbling A growl so low it is almost a hum, then a hiss.
  • A waterfall up ahead A steady roar of shh that gets louder as you walk closer.
  • Crunching dry leaves underfoot Rub your palms and crunch with your voice on each step.
  • Drips in a cave One drop, then its echo, quieter each time.
  • Footsteps in snow A soft crunch, made by squeezing a cheek full of air.
  • Hail on a car Hard taps of your fingernails, fast and uneven.
  • Ice cracking on a pond A sharp ping that runs away into a groan.
  • Rain on a roof Drum all ten fingers on a table, light, then heavy.
  • Thunder getting closer A low roll from the chest that ends in a crack.
  • Waves on a beach A slow rush in through the teeth and a hiss back out.
  • Wind in the trees A long whoosh that swells and dies, with a shh of leaves.
  • Wind under a door A thin whistle that rises and wavers.

People, no words 22

  • A big yawn A long, sliding ahh that sets the room off.
  • A crowd cheering a goal A rising roar made from the back of your throat, hands cupped.
  • A gasp of surprise One sharp breath in, held.
  • A long shush A long shh that gets sharper.
  • A long sigh A breath out that drops through the floor.
  • A sneeze building up Three short breaths in, a pause, and the sneeze.
  • Blowing out a row of candles One huge breath in and a long puff.
  • Clapping politely Soft, quick claps with flat fingers.
  • Clearing your throat for attention A small ahem, then a bigger one.
  • Crunching an apple A loud snap and noisy chewing.
  • Drumming fingers on a table Four fingers rolling, over and over.
  • Footsteps running upstairs Fast stomps that get quieter, then a door.
  • Gargling Tip your head back and bubble a note in your throat.
  • Giggling in a quiet room A snort held in, then a squeak that escapes.
  • Hiccups that will not stop A hic every few seconds, each one a surprise.
  • Shivering with cold Chatter your teeth and blow on your hands.
  • Slurping a hot drink A careful slurp and a long ahh.
  • Snapping fingers in time A steady snap on every second beat.
  • Snoring in the next room A long rattle in, a whistle out.
  • Three knocks and a pause Three knocks, a pause, two more.
  • Tiptoeing past a sleeper Almost nothing: tiny taps and one creak.
  • Whistling for a dog Two fingers, one sharp note that rises.

Instruments 24

  • A banjo picking Fast plucked notes with a twang.
  • A bugle at sunrise A few clear notes on one breath, each held.
  • A church organ One huge chord through the nose that fills the room, then a pedal note.
  • A cowbell A flat donk, donk on one note.
  • A double bass walking Deep plucked dums, one a step.
  • A drum roll Roll your tongue or patter your knees, and finish with a crash.
  • A flute tune Whistle softly and airily.
  • A gong One strike and a long, fading hum.
  • A harmonica on a porch Breathe a chord out and back in.
  • A harp sweep A soft run of notes from low to high, hands rippling.
  • A kazoo solo A buzzy hum through pinched lips.
  • A pair of maracas A fast chk-chk with the tongue.
  • A piano scale Sing eight notes up, tapping each on the table.
  • A squeaky violin A thin note that wobbles and slips.
  • A tambourine shake A shake of tss and a slap.
  • A triangle in an orchestra One clear ting.
  • A trumpet fanfare Buzz your lips in three bright rising notes.
  • A tuba going down the scale Slow, round oom notes, each lower.
  • A xylophone run Quick tongue clicks from low to high.
  • An accordion waltz A wheeze in, a chord out, squeezing with your elbows.
  • An electric guitar solo A nasal wail that bends, with a strum.
  • Bagpipes warming up A flat drone through the nose with a tune that squeezes in on top.
  • Bongos Two pitches with your palms on your knees, in a quick pattern.
  • Cymbals crashing A wide swing and a long tshhh.

How this list was compiled: Written by the Game Night Generator editors on 2026-09-30; the cards and the hints are our own work. Every card is something a room can know by its sound alone, and the line under each card in the list is our suggestion for making that sound with mouth, hands or feet. The sounds-only way of playing is a house variant with no written rule set, so this page gives one way to play and claims no authority for it. The ordinary rule it reverses is from Wikipedia's article on charades, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charades, read on 2026-09-30: the performance is silent, and humming, clapping and other noises may be banned as well. No card names a song, a band, a brand or a real person. Levels are an editor's judgment: easy is one thing a room names at once, medium takes two or three beats, and hard is a small scene, a quiet clue or a harder word. On this deck easy is a sound most people can make at once and hard is a quiet or layered sound. Compared by script on 2026-09-30 with every other list on this site: no card is repeated. Licence: own work