Key takeaways:
Stomach growling — or borborygmi — is caused by air and fluid moving through your gut.
Sudden spikes in stomach noises are usually a sign that you’re hungry or that you’ve been swallowing too much air.
Sometimes, loud stomach sounds are a sign of medical conditions like lactose intolerance or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). When this is the case, you will have other, more troubling symptoms, too.
It always seems to happen at the worst of times. That loud gurgling noise from your stomach that announces to the world that you’re hungry or need to go to the bathroom — or maybe even both. If you’ve ever been embarrassed by stomach noises, you might be wondering why your stomach growls, grumbles, and rumbles.
And if you’re a frequent rumbler, you might be wondering if there’s anything you can do to quiet your tummy. Here’s everything you’ve ever wanted to know about pesky stomach noises and what to do about them.
What causes stomach growling?
Borborygmi, or stomach growling, is triggered by shifts in gas and fluid patterns. People tend to say their stomach is making noises. But those growling, rumbling, or gurgling sounds could be coming from anywhere in your gut — including your small and large intestines.
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Your gut is mostly filled with liquids and semisolid materials. But there are gas bubbles, too. You swallow gas throughout the day, like when you eat and talk. And your gut bacteria form gas as they break down food. This gas can make noises as it moves through liquid.
Gas and fluids are always moving through your gut and making noise. But usually these noises are so quiet you don’t hear them. Every now and then, movements in gas or fluids can shift, and that’s what causes those louder rumbling noises.
Here are a few things that can cause a shift in gas and fluid patterns and lead to stomach growling you can hear.
Swallowing too much air
You’re more likely to have loud grumblings if you swallow too much air. You swallow air when you eat, drink, and speak. But some things can cause you to swallow more air than normal. This includes:
Chewing gum
Smoking
Drinking carbonated beverages
Eating big meals or eating too quickly
Having postnasal drip
Having gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Hunger
There’s a reason most people link stomach growling and hunger. When your stomach is empty, it contains more air. With less food and liquid inside to dampen the sound, those noises come through more clearly. This means you’re more likely to hear stomach noises when your stomach is empty and you’re hungry.
Lactose intolerance
People with lactose intolerance can’t digest lactose. Lactose is a sugar found in dairy products like milk, cheese, and ice cream. Leftover lactose gets broken down by the bacteria that lives in the colon (large intestine). And this process creates a lot of gas. This is why lactose intolerance causes symptoms like bloating and flatulence (gassiness). This extra gas in your colon can also increase stomach gurgling and rumbling.
High-fiber foods
High-fiber foods — like whole grains, leafy vegetables, and fruits — are great for your gut and overall health. But they’re also “high-residue” foods, which means your gut doesn’t fully break them down. When the residue gets to your colon, bacteria will partially break down that residue. The bacteria generate gas and that extra gas can make your stomach rumble.
Medical conditions
Certain medical conditions — like celiac disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) — can cause an increase in stomach grumbling. Again, this has to do with how the gut breaks down food and whether bacteria in the colon make more gas.
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Infections in the gut like gastroenteritis (the “stomach flu”) can also affect how gas moves through your intestines. This can lead to more noises, too.
Can stomach growling be a sign of something serious?
A growling stomach isn’t usually a sign of something serious. Most people experience stomach growling because of an empty stomach or swallowing too much air.
But sometimes stomach growling can be a sign of a gut infection or other medical conditions, such as:
Lactose intolerance
Celiac disease
Intestinal obstruction (blockage)
But stomach growling is unlikely to be the only sign of these conditions. You’ll likely have other symptoms, like:
These symptoms are what prompt people to get care, not stomach growling. So, if you just have an occasional increase in your stomach gurgling, chances are you’re either hungry or you’ve been swallowing too much air.
Can you stop your stomach growling?
You can’t stop stomach noises completely. But there are things you can do to even out your gas patterns so that your intestines aren’t as loud.
Here are some tips to lessen stomach growling:
Keep regular mealtimes: Stick to regular meals and snack times. This will keep your stomach from getting completely empty and reduce your chances for loud growls.
Cut back on gum chewing: You swallow a lot of air when you chew gum. If stomach growling bothers you, consider cutting back on gum chewing.
If you smoke, consider stopping: Smoking cessation will benefit every part of your body, including your intestines.
Cut down on lactose: If you think you might be lactose intolerant, try cutting dairy out of your diet. This will help relieve stomach growling and other symptoms.
Talk with your primary care provider: They can help you figure out if a medical condition like reflux is causing your stomach noises.
Frequently asked questions
Stomach growling doesn’t mean you’re losing weight. Growling sounds are a normal part of your digestive system. So you’ll hear these sounds whether or not you’re losing weight. But if you notice frequent growling along with unintended weight loss, it’s a good idea to talk with your primary care provider to make sure nothing else is going on.
A noisy stomach can be totally normal, but the noise alone doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a particularly healthy gut. Other signs that point to a well-functioning gut include having consistent bowel movements and stool that’s soft and easy to pass. If the noises you’re hearing from your gut follow a consistent pattern and you don’t have other gut issues, chances are you’re doing just fine.
There’s no real clinical difference between growling and gurgling when it comes to gut sounds. While there are different tones and pitches of the noises your gut makes, it’s hard to pick up on the differences by just listening with your ear (or even a stethoscope).
Your stomach may growl at night for any of the reasons we listed above. Perhaps the most common reason for nighttime stomach growling is the “migrating motor complex.” You can think of this as a sort of natural cleaning process that your digestive system runs when you haven’t eaten for a while. The noises you hear come from leftover food, fluid, and gas moving through your intestines. These movements and noises are stronger and more frequent at night because you go the longest without eating while you sleep.
Stomach growling doesn’t mean you’re losing weight. Growling sounds are a normal part of your digestive system. So you’ll hear these sounds whether or not you’re losing weight. But if you notice frequent growling along with unintended weight loss, it’s a good idea to talk with your primary care provider to make sure nothing else is going on.
A noisy stomach can be totally normal, but the noise alone doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a particularly healthy gut. Other signs that point to a well-functioning gut include having consistent bowel movements and stool that’s soft and easy to pass. If the noises you’re hearing from your gut follow a consistent pattern and you don’t have other gut issues, chances are you’re doing just fine.
There’s no real clinical difference between growling and gurgling when it comes to gut sounds. While there are different tones and pitches of the noises your gut makes, it’s hard to pick up on the differences by just listening with your ear (or even a stethoscope).
Your stomach may growl at night for any of the reasons we listed above. Perhaps the most common reason for nighttime stomach growling is the “migrating motor complex.” You can think of this as a sort of natural cleaning process that your digestive system runs when you haven’t eaten for a while. The noises you hear come from leftover food, fluid, and gas moving through your intestines. These movements and noises are stronger and more frequent at night because you go the longest without eating while you sleep.
The bottom line
Stomach noises are caused by gas moving through your intestines. Your gut makes noises all the time, but sudden shifts in gas patterns can cause loud grumbles. Stomach growling is usually a sign that you’re hungry or that you’ve been swallowing too much air. Sometimes, loud stomach noises are a sign of medical conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease, and lactose intolerance. But these conditions also cause other symptoms.
Talk with your primary care provider if you’re not sure what’s causing your stomach rumblings. They can help you figure out if your stomach noises are a sign of a medical condition.
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References
Deloose, E., et al. (2012). The migrating motor complex: control mechanisms and its role in health and disease. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology.
Felder, S., et al. (2014). Usefulness of bowel sound auscultation: a prospective evaluation. Journal of Surgical Education.
Garnett, A., et al. (2026). Aerophagia (air swallowing). SleepApnea.org.
Gupta, N., et al. (2025). Unraveling the mystery of persistent positional borborygmi. ACG Case Reports Journal.
MedlinePlus. (2024). Abdominal sounds.
