The familiar vocal call of a donkey is called a bray.
A bray is a loud, distinctive donkey vocalization often represented in English as “hee-haw.” Donkeys can use it for contact, excitement, distress, territorial signaling or other social situations. Its unusual two-part quality comes from the changing pattern of inhalation and exhalation during the call.
Donkeys and horses are closely related equids, but their vocal repertoires are not identical. A horse’s common call is a neigh or whinny, whereas “bray” is the standard term for a donkey’s characteristic call. Mules, which are hybrids of donkeys and horses, may produce calls resembling either parent.
Donkeys descended from African wild asses and were domesticated thousands of years ago. Their strong voices remain useful in open or rugged environments, where visual contact between individuals can be limited.