Average Speaking Voice Frequency by Sex
The average fundamental frequency of the male speaking voice is approximately 110-160 Hz, while the female speaking voice averages 160-200 Hz in healthy adults.
Male Speaking Voice Frequencies
- The mean fundamental frequency for adult males ranges from 111-161 Hz across multiple large population studies 1, 2.
- In a large population-based study of 1,154 males aged 40-79 years, the conversational speaking voice averaged 111.9 Hz, with the softest speaking voice at 111.8 Hz 2.
- A separate study of 153 healthy young adults found the average male fundamental frequency to be 160.81 ± 24.27 Hz 1.
- Male speaking voice frequencies increase significantly with age, unlike female voices 2.
Female Speaking Voice Frequencies
- The mean fundamental frequency for adult females ranges from 161-297 Hz depending on the study population and measurement method 1, 2.
- In the large population study of 1,318 females aged 40-79 years, conversational speaking voice averaged 168.5 Hz, with the softest speaking voice at 161.3 Hz 2.
- A study of healthy young females found the average fundamental frequency to be 297.42 ± 35.89 Hz 1.
- Recent data suggest the mean fundamental speaking voice frequency of females may be six to seven semitones lower than previously described in older literature 2.
Clinical Context for Voice Assessment
- The lowest average fundamental frequency identified as belonging to a female speaker was 155 Hz in perceptual studies 3.
- When measuring classroom voice (louder speaking), frequencies increase to 130.2 Hz for males and 198.0 Hz for females 2.
- For shouting voice, frequencies reach 175.5 Hz for males and 246.2 Hz for females 2.
Important Caveats
- Current smokers show significantly lower fundamental frequencies compared to non-smokers and former smokers 2.
- Age affects male speaking voice frequencies more than female, with males showing significant increases with age while females do not 2.
- These normative values apply to healthy adults without voice disorders and should be used as reference standards for clinical voice assessment 2, 4.