grunts

Grunts is a term used to describe several distinct concepts across biology, linguistics, and culture. In general use, it refers to low, short vocalizations or sounds. The word also serves as a common name for certain tropical fish of the family Haemulidae, and as slang for a class of low-status, frontline military personnel. The senses are separate and not etymologically connected beyond the shared word.

In military slang, a grunt denotes an infantry soldier who fights on foot. The term is especially associated with frontline troops and with the Vietnam era, though it is still used in some contexts today. Grunts are characterized by direct ground combat, patrolling, and maneuver tasks rather than specialized support roles. The term can be neutral, descriptive, or pejorative depending on context and speaker.

Grunts, or grunters, are tropical fish in the Haemulidae family. They inhabit coral reefs, seagrass beds, and adjacent habitats in tropical and subtropical seas around the world. They are typically medium-sized, form schools, and feed on invertebrates. Many species produce characteristic sounds by vibrating the swim bladder via sonic muscles, a behavior linked to social and mating interactions. They are harvested for local fisheries in several regions and play roles in reef ecosystems as predators of invertebrates.

The term grunt is also used in general English to describe any low, guttural sound produced by humans or animals. The phrase grunt work refers to routine, unskilled, and repetitive tasks often performed as initial or supporting duties in an organization. The origin of grunt work is uncertain but is widely associated with military or factory labor.