In tiger communication, the friendly vocalization often called a “chuff” is known as prusten.
Prusten is a short, breathy sound produced with the mouth closed or nearly closed. Tigers may use it during affiliative encounters, including greetings between familiar individuals. The sound is generally associated with non-threatening social contact rather than an aggressive warning.
People often describe prusten informally as a tiger “chuff,” but the technical term helps distinguish it from purring, roaring, growling, and other feline sounds. Tigers also use scent marking, facial expressions, body posture, and vocal calls as parts of a broader communication system.
Although domestic cats produce several familiar social sounds, their repertoire should not be assumed to match that of tigers. Prusten is particularly documented in large cats, with tigers being its best-known example.