What Cannot Talk but Will Always Reply When Spoken To? is a classic riddle you can test for yourself in a big empty room or a valley. Guess first, then tap Show Answer.
Need a hint?
Shout “Hello!” in a cave and listen.
Answer and explanation (spoiler!)
The answer is an echo.
An echo is your own voice bouncing back off hard surfaces like cliffs, walls or the inside of a cave. It can’t speak by itself, but it always “answers” when you make a sound.
The riddle describes it like a person who never starts a conversation but always replies, which is a lovely way to picture an echo.
Difficulty: Easy · Best for: ages 6 and up
Similar riddles
- What Is So Delicate That Saying Its Name Breaks It?
- What Can Be Seen but Not Touched?
- What Has a Ring but No Fingers?
- What Can Go Through Glass Without Breaking It?
FAQ
Where can I hear an echo?
Try a cave, a tunnel, an empty hall, a stairwell or a valley between hills. Hard surfaces bounce sound back best.
Are there other answers?
Some people say “a parrot”, but parrots can talk. An echo is the answer that fits every clue.