Common Pig Sounds (and what we think they mean)
Pigs make a wide range of sounds with a variety of meanings. They don’t actually say “oink” but make a noise more like “groink” — but pig sounds are very difficult to spell! You will have to determine what your pig is trying to say and over time, you will figure out what each one of the sounds mean. These sounds are very situational though. The same sound could have multiple meanings when used in different situations. Below are descriptions of some of the sounds to help you understand what your pig may be saying:
Grunting: Usually the noise a mother pig makes when feeding her young. There are loud grunts and soft grunts. Each has a different meaning.
Barking: A warning of danger nearby OR this can mean your pig is having fun.
Squealing: A sign of anticipation (usually when about to be fed) or a sign of pain.
A quiet, hot panting: Usually the pigs way of saying “hello” or being friendly, we interpret this as a pigs way of saying I love you.
A rough coughing noise: Usually means your pig is annoyed about something.
More specific sounds may sound like these:
Short, sharp bark: You gave me a shock
Series of barks: I’m suspicious, there is something new here and I might bite
Loud, sharp groinking bark: I’m threatened and may attack
Soft grunts: I am perfectly content and hope that you keep rubbing my belly
Quiet, continuous groinking: I’m totally content and probably rooting, sleeping or getting into something I shouldn't have.
Loud, sudden squeal: I’ve touched the electric fence or hurt or scared
Continuous week week week squeal: Here comes supper at last
Grrr rr rr — a bit like a quiet lion’s roar: I’m in heat or upset
Breathy, in-out he hon he hon he hon: I know you and I’m pleased to see you, we believe this is a pigs way of saying "I love you"
Quiet, quick groink groink groink: Sow to piglets; also used when suckling, also a sound pigs make when they feel comfortable
Protective-sounding, barking hah hah hah: Sow finding out why piglet is squealing and also by pigs who appear to be having fun
Low, nasal arf arf arf: Boar to sow — “You’re my kind of gal”
Whining - Well, that is pretty straight forward, they want food, someone made them mad or is messing with them when they do not want
Uhh uhh uhh uhh uhh - Content, belly gettin scratched sound
Aroooooo- Means feed me NOW!
Ahhhh ahhhh ahhh- is a familial greeting. It means they see you as family
oink, oink, reeeeeee- Means they are searching for someone, or something and they are a bit nervous about it
Woof- It sounds like a bark. This has two meanings. Excited in a good way..... they will bark and run and play. If they say it in a higher pitch it means DANGER and they will run away.
Ooof (while blowing air) - usually means annoyed, but can mean nervousness
Rarararaa grumble grumble- Means I AM NOT moving off the couch!
Teeth grinding - Can be confusing...... It can mean they are teething and have discomfort, in pain, and some do it for contentment
Lip smacking - Can merely mean they are enjoying their food, they have food stuck in their mouth or because they have so many tastebuds, they could very well be tasting the air as strange as that sounds (sometimes they will froth at the mouth). This usually means they are angry and ready to fight (with another animal) It can also mean they are ready to find a suitable mate (part of the mating ritual). This can also be a sign of aggression, but the aggressive sound is usually more chomping rather than lip smacking.
Continuous oinking - I call this "echo location". They are just oinking to see if someone is around, searching for their family. Usually the first few days it means they are searching for us. After that, they are searching for the members of their new family.
Screaming - this means they are upset because they are hungry, confined or can’t find you. Now don't be fooled by this one...... if they are screaming to be fed at a nonscheduled feeding time - DO NOT give in.....just ignore them or they will continue this behavior
Grunts - they have soooo many of these.... Most are happy grunts. They have different sounding ones that come with belly rubs...... when you get the "right spot", scratching, rubbing, petting or happy I-am-eating-food grunts.
Grunting: Usually the noise a mother pig makes when feeding her young. There are loud grunts and soft grunts. Each has a different meaning.
Barking: A warning of danger nearby OR this can mean your pig is having fun.
Squealing: A sign of anticipation (usually when about to be fed) or a sign of pain.
A quiet, hot panting: Usually the pigs way of saying “hello” or being friendly, we interpret this as a pigs way of saying I love you.
A rough coughing noise: Usually means your pig is annoyed about something.
More specific sounds may sound like these:
Short, sharp bark: You gave me a shock
Series of barks: I’m suspicious, there is something new here and I might bite
Loud, sharp groinking bark: I’m threatened and may attack
Soft grunts: I am perfectly content and hope that you keep rubbing my belly
Quiet, continuous groinking: I’m totally content and probably rooting, sleeping or getting into something I shouldn't have.
Loud, sudden squeal: I’ve touched the electric fence or hurt or scared
Continuous week week week squeal: Here comes supper at last
Grrr rr rr — a bit like a quiet lion’s roar: I’m in heat or upset
Breathy, in-out he hon he hon he hon: I know you and I’m pleased to see you, we believe this is a pigs way of saying "I love you"
Quiet, quick groink groink groink: Sow to piglets; also used when suckling, also a sound pigs make when they feel comfortable
Protective-sounding, barking hah hah hah: Sow finding out why piglet is squealing and also by pigs who appear to be having fun
Low, nasal arf arf arf: Boar to sow — “You’re my kind of gal”
Whining - Well, that is pretty straight forward, they want food, someone made them mad or is messing with them when they do not want
Uhh uhh uhh uhh uhh - Content, belly gettin scratched sound
Aroooooo- Means feed me NOW!
Ahhhh ahhhh ahhh- is a familial greeting. It means they see you as family
oink, oink, reeeeeee- Means they are searching for someone, or something and they are a bit nervous about it
Woof- It sounds like a bark. This has two meanings. Excited in a good way..... they will bark and run and play. If they say it in a higher pitch it means DANGER and they will run away.
Ooof (while blowing air) - usually means annoyed, but can mean nervousness
Rarararaa grumble grumble- Means I AM NOT moving off the couch!
Teeth grinding - Can be confusing...... It can mean they are teething and have discomfort, in pain, and some do it for contentment
Lip smacking - Can merely mean they are enjoying their food, they have food stuck in their mouth or because they have so many tastebuds, they could very well be tasting the air as strange as that sounds (sometimes they will froth at the mouth). This usually means they are angry and ready to fight (with another animal) It can also mean they are ready to find a suitable mate (part of the mating ritual). This can also be a sign of aggression, but the aggressive sound is usually more chomping rather than lip smacking.
Continuous oinking - I call this "echo location". They are just oinking to see if someone is around, searching for their family. Usually the first few days it means they are searching for us. After that, they are searching for the members of their new family.
Screaming - this means they are upset because they are hungry, confined or can’t find you. Now don't be fooled by this one...... if they are screaming to be fed at a nonscheduled feeding time - DO NOT give in.....just ignore them or they will continue this behavior
Grunts - they have soooo many of these.... Most are happy grunts. They have different sounding ones that come with belly rubs...... when you get the "right spot", scratching, rubbing, petting or happy I-am-eating-food grunts.
Some pig sounds you may hear.
You can find some additional sounds on this link by clicking the next link. http://www.junglewalk.com/sound/Pig-sounds
http://www.motherearthnews.com
http://www.motherearthnews.com
This is an example of a pig that is "barking" and it does sound much like a dog. Some pigs will "bark" when they're excited or running and playing. Other pigs will bark from fear, knowing the situation surrounding the sound can help you determine if its a happy sound or an unhappy sound your pig is making.