How to Lose Your Voice Fast

Co-authored by Patrick Muñoz

Last Updated: January 12, 2023 References Approved

If you wish to lose your voice fast without resorting to smoking or getting a cold, take measures to hinder your vocal cords. Exert your voice by screaming, singing, whispering, coughing, clearing your throat, or attending sports events or loud concerts.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Patrick Muñoz
Voice & Speech Coach
Expert Interview. 12 November 2019.} Eat and drink things that may diminish your voice (e.g. acidic, salty, and fatty foods, or caffeine or alcohol). Expose yourself to heat, cold, and loud ambient noise.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Exerting Your Voice

1
Whisper as much as possible. While whispering might seem like a method of preserving one's voice, it actually puts much more strain on your vocal chords than speaking normally does. Whispering also has a drying effect that can cause voice loss. Take every opportunity to whisper instead of talking at a regular volume by pretending that you need to be discreet during conversations, or by starting discussions in quiet places (e.g. a library).
2
Scream into a pillow. Screaming at the top of your lungs is the most effective way to lose your voice.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Patrick Muñoz
Voice & Speech Coach
Expert Interview. 12 November 2019.} Find a thick pillow to scream into to muffle the bulk of the noise, preferably when no one else is close enough to hear it and be concerned. Continue until your voice feels raspy, and stop if you experience pain. ^{[3]
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3
Growl often. This will make your throat sore and your voice raspy.
4
Sing karaoke. While professional singers generally warm up their voices before performing, amateur singers have a tendency to wear out their voices by singing too loudly and out of pitch. Spend an evening doing karaoke with friends to enjoy yourself while trying to lose your voice. The act of projecting your voice to fill a room or hall is very likely to cause bruising or swelling of your vocal cords, resulting in temporary laryngitis.^{[4]
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5
Clear your throat or cough. Coughing or clearing your throat can put a strain on your larynx, diminishing your voice. Excessive coughing commonly causes laryngitis, either in the short term or long-term. To lose your voice fast, prompt yourself to cough, or clear your voice repetitively until it becomes hoarse and raspy.^{[5]
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6
Attend a concert or sports event.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Patrick Muñoz
Voice & Speech Coach
Expert Interview. 12 November 2019.} Lose your voice in a fun way by attending a loud concert or sporting event. Get into the action and cheer, sing along, or scream as much as possible. While losing one's voice is often considered a downside of these fun experiences, it can be seen as a success when that is your ultimate goal.^{[7]
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- Visiting a dance club, attending a demonstration, or going go karting are also options for loud activities that encourage voice exertion.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Food and Drink for Voice Loss

1
Gargle vinegar and lemon juice. To cause irritation to the vocal cords and promote voice loss, make a mixture of white vinegar and lemon juice. Add 1/4 cup vinegar (2 oz.) and 1/4 cup lemon juice (2 oz.) to a glass, then stir. Gargle with the mixture for about 30 seconds, then spit it out and repeat if desired.^{[8]
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- If the mixture is too potent for you, add 1/4 cup water (2 oz.) to dilute it.
2
Drink caffeinated drinks and alcohol. Caffeine and alcohol can have a dehydrating effect on the body, leaving your throat dry and raspy. Healthy vocal folds need moisture to vibrate and close properly, otherwise your voice will get breathy and hoarse. Spend a fun night out with friends at a cafe or bar and consume plenty of caffeinated or alcoholic drinks to lose your voice fast.^{[9]
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3
Consume fatty, spicy, or acidic food. Consuming food or drink that has a high acidic content can cause acid reflux, which in turn can irritate the vocal chords and trigger laryngitis. Fatty or spicy foods can have the same effect.^{[10]
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Research source} To lose your voice fast, try consuming:^{[11]
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- Citrus fruits
- Tomatoes
- Fried foods
- Red meat
- Cheese
4
Enjoy high-sodium foods. Eating food with high sodium content is bad for your voice because of the drying effect of the salt. To dry out your vocal cords enough to promote voice loss, go for bacon as an ultimate high-salt indulgence (which is also high in fat, another voice-diminishing element).^{[12]
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Research source} Some other sodium-rich foods to eat include:^{[13]
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- Pretzels
- Salted nuts
- Soya sauce
- Instant soups
- Pickles
5
Don't drink much water. Keep your throat dry and breathe through your mouth often.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Creating a Voice-Diminishing Environment

1
Turn up the heat. Heating systems absorb moisture from the air, leaving rooms dry. This dryness can dehydrate your body, including your throat and vocal cords. To lose your voice fast, turn up the heat in your room or home as much as possible and leave it at that temperature overnight.^{[14]
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2
Expose yourself to cold, dry air. Cold, dry air can irritate the larynx and hinder the vocal cords, diminishing your voice. If you are living in a cold climate, get outside for prolonged winter activities (e.g. cross-country skiing) or go for a long walk outdoors. If you are living in a warm climate, crank up the air-conditioning as much as possible.^{[15]
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3
Increase ambient noise. To help lose your voice fast, increase the ambient noise level in your home or work space so that you automatically have to speak louder or yell to communicate.^{[16]
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Expert Source

Patrick Muñoz
Voice & Speech Coach
Expert Interview. 12 November 2019.} People tend to naturally increase their voices by 3 decibels for every 10 decibel increase in ambient noise around them. Play loud music or movies in the background, or opt for instrumental scores if you need to concentrate without distractions.^{[17]
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Community Q&A

Question

What can I do if my parents or teachers ask me why I am so quiet and shy?

Community Answer

Point to your throat to indicate that you cannot talk. If they think you're lying, then try to talk. The result will be a raspy voice.
Question

Can I just scream outside my house as long as I can? Will that help?

Community Answer

You would likely disturb other people, and your neighbors might call the police if you do so; I suggest you do it into a pillow instead.
Question

Why would anyone want to lose their voice?

Community Answer

There are certain songs that are great when you have a hoarse voice. And others just want to fake sick in their choir class!