Why do people have different voices?
Short answer
People sound different because their vocal folds and the spaces that shape sound are not exactly alike.
How a voice is made
The vocal folds are two small bands inside the voice box. When we speak, air from our lungs passes between them and makes them vibrate. This vibration creates sound.
Their size, shape, and vibration affect a voice’s pitch (how high or low it sounds) and volume (how loud it sounds). The spaces in the throat, mouth, and nose also shape its tone (the quality of the sound).
Voices can change
A cold can affect the vocal folds, so your voice may sound hoarse.