Dogs link sounds to shapes

Domestic dogs associate the sound "bouba" with round shapes and "kiki" with sharp shapes, according to a study by researchers at the University of Parma in Italy. This discovery suggests a connection between sounds and shapes that might have existed before the development of language.

Study published in 2026

The study, published in October 2026 in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, involved 70 domestic dogs and tested their responses to the "bouba-kiki" test. This test, first observed in humans in the 1920s, shows that people consistently associate "bouba" with round shapes and "kiki" with sharp shapes, regardless of language or writing system.

Dogs showed similar responses

Researchers found that dogs exhibited similar associations, spending significantly more time looking at the round shape when they heard "bouba" and focusing more on the sharp shape when they heard "kiki." This suggests that the link between sounds and shapes may not be unique to humans.

Experiment setup and analysis

The first experiment involved 51 dogs and their owners. Each pair entered a room with two screens, each connected to a speaker. After exploring the space, the dogs settled with their owners, facing the device. For about fifteen minutes, a human voice pronounced "bouba" or "kiki," while the two shapes switched between the left and right screens.

Research methods and findings

A GoPro camera filmed each dog, and the videos were analyzed using artificial intelligence to track head direction and estimate gaze. This method allowed researchers to detect preferences that went beyond what would be expected by chance. The study’s lead researcher, ethologist Eleonora Biffi, noted that the link between sounds and shapes could surpass human capabilities, though initial results need further confirmation.