gurgling

Gurgling is a bubbling or churning sound produced when liquids move through a narrow passage or when air moves through a liquid. The term is used in both everyday language and clinical descriptions to describe audible noises in the body or in plumbing and machinery. The sound is often described as gurgling, burbling, or gargling and may vary in pitch and duration.

In humans, gurgling most commonly refers to digestive sounds, known as borborygmi. These noises occur as gas and liquid move through the intestines during digestion and can be heard with or without a stethoscope. Mild gurgling is normal, especially after meals or when hungry. In infants and children, swallowed air can contribute to gurgling; frequent or painful gurgling with other symptoms may warrant medical attention.

Gurgling can also describe respiratory or pharyngeal sounds, particularly when mucus or saliva moves in the throat or airways. Audible gurgling from the chest may indicate secretions, infection, or airway obstruction and is usually evaluated by a clinician.

In nonbiological contexts, gurgling is commonly heard in plumbing when air bubbles through standing water in traps or pipes. It often signals a venting problem or partial clog and may be accompanied by slow drainage or a foul odor; addressing venting or clearing clogs is typical treatment.

Etymology: gurgle derives from onomatopoeic roots describing the bubbling sound. The term has been in English since the 15th century.