Dogs Linked Speech Sounds to Visual Shapes
Researchers found that dogs instinctively associate specific phonetic sounds with either rounded or spiky shapes.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Dogs
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A study conducted by researchers at the University of Parma and Eötvös Loránd University demonstrated that dogs associate speech sounds with specific geometric shapes. This suggests that the bouba-kiki effect, previously observed in humans, exists in animals without human-like language.
Why it matters
The findings challenge the assumption that humans are unique in linking abstract sounds to visual forms. It provides new insight into how non-human species perceive and categorize sensory information.
In the experiment, 56 per cent of dogs lingered on a rounded shape when hearing the word bouba, while 63 per cent gazed at a spiky shape upon hearing the word kiki. This behavior occurred among a participant group of 51 dog owners.
The players
University of Parma
This is an Italian public research institution where the study was conducted.
Eötvös Loránd University
This is a public research university in Budapest, Hungary, associated with the study.
The details
Owners presented dogs with rounded and spiky shapes on opposite sides of a room to observe which object they lingered on or gazed at after hearing specific words. These results remained consistent even when the owners wore headphones playing music, indicating the dogs were responding to the sounds rather than owner cues.
Timeline
2001 marked the beginning of human bouba-kiki effect research.
The experimental findings were reported on October 13, 2026.
Culture Shift
This research signals a move away from the belief that symbolic sound-shape associations are unique to humans. It reflects a broader shift toward analyzing cognitive patterns in domestic animals through the lens of established psychological phenomena like the bouba-kiki effect.
This study provides pet owners with a deeper understanding of how their dogs process sensory input and categorize their environment. It highlights the potential for owners to better engage with their pets by understanding their innate cognitive associations.
The takeaway
Understanding how dogs link sounds to visual cues offers a new perspective on animal communication. Owners might observe their own pets' reactions to similar sounds to see if they display these same cognitive preferences.
What happens next
Researchers are currently in the process of collecting additional data on puppies and wild canids, including foxes, and have announced plans to conduct similar studies on cats.
Further reading
Learn more about animal behavior in our Dogs section.
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