Makes a sound like a ghost is a loose, atmospheric phrase that people use when a noise feels eerie, hollow, or otherworldly rather than like an ordinary everyday sound. Think “windy, echoing, breathy, or distant” more than anything literally supernatural.

What “makes a sound like a ghost” usually suggests

When someone says something “makes a sound like a ghost,” they’re often talking about:

  • A long, drawn-out “woo-oo-oo” or sighing noise, similar to wind howling around a corner or through a crack.
  • Soft, almost human-like sounds that seem just out of earshot (a whisper, a sigh, a faint cry, or a muffled voice).
  • Echoey noises in big, empty, or hard-surfaced spaces (halls, stairwells, old houses) that give the impression of a presence.
  • Random creaks, taps, or knocks that feel intentional or “communicative,” like something trying to get attention.

In everyday language, you might hear:

“The wind through that broken window makes a sound like a ghost.”
or
“The old pipes make a ghost-like moan at night.”

Common real-world causes of “ghost-like” sounds

Most “ghostly” sounds have pretty normal sources, especially in houses or buildings:

  • Wind and air flow
    • Wind whistling through gaps, vents, or cracked seals can create long, moaning tones that people compare to ghosts.
* Changes in air pressure can make doors rattle or produce low rumbles and hums.
  • Pipes, heating, and plumbing
    • Water moving through pipes or radiators can cause groans, knocks, and whistles that sound strangely alive or vocal.
    • Expansion and contraction of metal when heating turns on or off can produce sharp taps or bangs that feel “intentional.”
  • Building settling and materials
    • Wood beams and floors flex slightly with temperature and humidity; this can make creaks and pops, especially at night when everything else is quiet.
    • Large, echoey rooms or stairwells amplify and stretch these noises, making them feel distant or spectral.
  • Electronics and audio artifacts
    • Background noise, interference, or distorted recordings can contain patterns that our brains interpret as faint voices or whispers, which some call “spirit voices” or EVP.

How people describe “ghost sounds” in paranormal contexts

In ghost stories, forums, and paranormal circles, “sounds like a ghost” often refers to:

  • Whispers and murmurs that seem to come from nowhere, sometimes right next to someone’s ear.
  • Footsteps in empty hallways or above ceilings when no one appears to be there.
  • Knocks or taps , sometimes in patterns (like three knocks), interpreted as attempts to communicate or as ominous signs in some traditions.
  • Crying or wailing , compared to banshee-like screams or mournful sobbing, often tied to local legends about tragic past events.

People will then say things like:

“I heard a sound like a ghost walking down the hall.”
“There was this ghost-like sobbing coming from the next room.”

Figurative and idiomatic use

The phrase can also be metaphorical, not spooky at all:

  • Describing someone who moves or appears very quietly :
    • “She walked in like a ghost — I didn’t hear a thing.”
  • Describing someone very pale or drained :
    • “After the night shift he looked like a ghost.”
  • Describing a sound that’s barely there :
    • “The music was so faint it was like a ghost in the background.”

In these cases, “like a ghost” just adds a sense of quietness, subtlety, or eeriness, not necessarily horror.

Mini FAQ

Is there a “real” ghost sound?
No universally agreed one. Culturally, people default to a drawn-out “boo” or a moaning wind-like sound, but that’s more pop culture than evidence.

Why do ordinary sounds feel ghostly at night?
Human brains are wired to notice patterns and possible threats in the dark; when everything is quiet, small, ambiguous sounds stand out and feel loaded with meaning.

TL;DR:
“Makes a sound like a ghost ” usually means a sound that is eerie, breathy, echoing, or oddly human-like—often caused by wind, buildings, or pipes, but described with ghostly language because it feels spooky or out of place.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.