whisper
gb/wˈɪspɚ/ us/wˈɪspɚ/
A2
English
~ 2700
suttog, súg, suttogás, elsuttog, susog
VERB
A2
1
Usage pattern:
to whisper [something] to [someone]
She leaned over to whisper the answer in his ear.
Odahajolt, hogy a fülébe súgja a választ.
He whispered so quietly that I could barely hear him.
Olyan halkan suttogott, hogy alig hallottam.
They whispered together in the corner, trying not to be overheard.
I heard her whisper my name in the dark.
Learner examples
She whispered to her friend.
Suttogva beszélt a barátjával.
He whispered in my ear.
A fülembe súgott.
They whispered about the game.
I whispered the word to her.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'whisper' with 'murmur'; 'murmur' can describe soft sounds that are not necessarily speech.
Meaning
Speak softly without vocal cords
Collocations
whisper softly
|whisper in one's ear
|whisper a secret
|whisper quietly
Synonyms
murmur (Softer and more continuous sound, often less distinct than a whisper.)
Antonyms
shout (A loud, forceful way of speaking, opposite to whispering.)
Themes
communication
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To say something in a very soft voice so only someone near you can hear it.
To speak or say something very quietly, using little or no vibration of the vocal cords, so that only someone close can hear.
NOUN
A2
2
suttogás
B1
She told me the news in a whisper.
Suttogva mondta el nekem a hírt.
His voice dropped to a whisper.
Suttogóra halkult a hangja.
The room was so quiet, you could hear every whisper.
Learner examples
He spoke in a whisper.
Suttogva beszélt.
I heard a whisper behind me.
Suttogást hallottam magam mögött.
She answered in a whisper.
Meaning
A very quiet way of speaking
Collocations
in a whisper
|barely a whisper
|soft whisper
Synonyms
murmur (A low, soft sound; may be less intentional than a whisper.)
Antonyms
yell (A loud and forceful vocalization, opposite of a whisper.)
Themes
communication
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A very soft voice that only someone near can hear.
A very quiet or hushed way of speaking, made with little or no vibration of the vocal cords.
VERB
B1
3
Usage pattern:
to whisper [something] to [someone]
She whispered the plan so no one else would hear.
Suttogva mondta el a tervet, hogy senki más ne hallja.
They whispered gossip about their classmates.
Pletykákat suttogtak az osztálytársaikról.
He whispered the password to me.
Learner examples
She whispered the secret to me.
A fülembe súgta a titkot.
He whispered his idea to her.
A fülébe súgta az ötletét.
They whispered about the teacher.
Meaning
Say something secretly or privately
Collocations
whisper a plan
|whisper gossip
Synonyms
confide (Implies telling someone private or sensitive information; may not always be in a whispering tone.)
Antonyms
announce (To make information known publicly and loudly.)
Themes
communication
|secrecy
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To speak quietly to someone so other people cannot hear.
To say something quietly and privately so that only one or a few people can hear, often to keep it secret.
NOUN
B1
4
suttogás
B1
The whispers about the scandal spread quickly.
Gyorsan terjedtek a botránnyal kapcsolatos suttogások.
I caught a whisper of their plan as I walked by.
Ahogy elmentem mellettük, elkaptam egy suttogva elejtett félmondatot a tervükről.
There were whispers that he might resign.
Learner examples
I heard whispers about the party.
Suttogásokat hallottam a buliról.
There were whispers of bad news.
Rossz hírekről szóltak a suttogások.
Whispers spread through the office.
Meaning
A secret said quietly to someone
Collocations
a whisper of scandal
|spread by whispers
Synonyms
rumor (An unverified piece of information; may be spread without being literally whispered.)
Antonyms
proclamation (A formal and public announcement.)
Themes
communication
|secrecy
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Words said very softly to share a secret.
A message, comment, or piece of information spoken very quietly and privately.
VERB
B2
LITERARY
5
The wind whispered through the pine trees.
A szél susogott a fenyők között.
The grass whispered under the moonlight.
A fű susogott a holdfényben.
Silk skirts whispered as she walked past.
Learner examples
The wind whispered in the trees.
A szél susogott a fák között.
Leaves whispered in the garden.
A levelek susogtak a kertben.
The dress whispered when she moved.
Meaning
Make soft rustling sound
Collocations
wind whispers through trees
|leaves whisper
Synonyms
rustle (Specifically refers to light sounds made by movement, especially of leaves or paper.)
Themes
nature
|sound
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make a soft sound like someone talking quietly.
To make a soft sound similar to quiet speech, such as wind through leaves or fabric brushing together.
Grammar
Dictionary form
whisper
IPA
GB/wˈɪspɚ/
US/wˈɪspɚ/
Syllables & stress
whis - per (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (whis)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: whisper
- Plural: whisper, whispers
Verb
- Base: whisper
- 3rd Person Singular: whispers
- Present Participle: whispering
- Past: whispered
Word family
Forms
whispers
noun
whispering
verb
whispered
verb
Advanced or less common
whisperer
noun
whispery
adjective
Expressions
a whisper of something
1/ə wˈɪspɚ əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Very small amount or sign of something
A very small amount or sign of something that is hard to notice.
Examples
- There was a whisper of doubt in her voice.
- The sky showed a whisper of pink at dawn.
in a whisper
1/ˈɪn ə wˈɪspɚ/
fixed phrase
Speaking very quietly
Speaking very softly so only someone close can hear you.
Examples
- She told me in a whisper not to move.
- He spoke in a whisper during the movie.
whisper sweet nothings
1/wˈɪspɚ swˈit nˈʌθɪŋz/
idiom
Say romantic things quietly
To say loving or romantic words very softly to someone you love.
Examples
- They sat by the fire, whispering sweet nothings to each other.
- He leaned in and whispered sweet nothings into her ear.