humming

Humming is the production of a continuous, low- to mid-pitched sound by vibrating the vocal cords while the mouth is closed or nearly closed. The sound is typically voiced and sustained rather than articulated with distinct consonants or vowels. The result is a mellow, often nasal tone that can be held on a single pitch or varied smoothly.

The mechanism involves partial occlusion of the oral cavity and resonance through the nasal passages. With the lips closed, air passes mainly through the vocal folds and the velum, creating a rich resonance in the vocal tract. Pitch is mainly controlled by vocal fold tension and breath support; articulation is minimal, so timbre is shaped by the cavities rather than by tongue or lips.

Humming is widely used in music and speech practice. Singers hum to warm up the voice, calibrate pitch, and relax the jaw and larynx. It appears in many cultural contexts, from lullabies to meditation tracks. People may hum to regulate breathing, focus attention, or soothe themselves.

Outside of human vocalization, hum or humming describes a low, continuous sound produced by machinery, electrical equipment, or natural sources such as insects or wind. In rare cases, people report persistent non-musical humming in the ears (tinnitus), a perceptual phenomenon rather than a produced sound.