whisper
WHIS-per
/ˈwɪspər/
To speak very softly using one's breath rather than one's vocal cords.
Implies a desire for secrecy, privacy, or a need to avoid disturbing others. It is completely unvoiced.
The story behind the word. Dating back to Old English 'hwisprian', this word is purely imitative. It mimics the very sound of air escaping the lips, capturing the sibilant, breathy quality of quiet speech.
Word relationships
- breathe: Breathe emphasizes the breathy, airy quality of the sound, whereas whisper is the general term for quiet speech.
- shout: Shout is to speak or cry out at the top of one's voice, the polar opposite of a quiet whisper.
Commonly confused with
- murmur: Whisper uses only breath without vocal cord vibration, while murmur uses a low, voiced tone.
Word family
- whisperer (noun): A person who whispers or influences others quietly.
Collocations
- whisper a secret
- conspiratorial whisper
- stage whisper
Idioms & expressions
- whisper sweet nothings
Example sentences
- "She had to whisper the secret directly into his ear so that no one else in the crowded library could hear." A classic literary example of a secret shared in quiet.
Memory hook
Imagine the wind whistling through the trees, whispering secrets to the leaves. Whisper sounds like the wind whistling.
When not to use
Do not use when there is vocal cord vibration (use murmur instead) or when the speech is grumbling and discontented (use mutter).
Fun facts
- The term 'whisper campaign' refers to the systematic spreading of malicious rumors to damage someone's reputation quietly.
Explore more words
confide, speechless, secluded, unobtrusive, confidant, snide
Also appears in
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