whistle
gb/wˈɪsəl/ us/wˈɪsəl/
A2
English
~ 2000
fütyül, síp, süvít, sípol, füttyent, füttyel hív, síppal jelez, fütty, sípszó
VERB
A2
1
fütyül
B1
Usage pattern:
to whistle [a tune/song]
He likes to whistle while he works.
Szeret fütyülni munka közben.
She whistled a cheerful tune as she walked.
Vidám dallamot fütyült, miközben sétált.
The referee whistled to stop the game.
I heard someone whistle for a taxi.
He whistled softly so as not to wake the baby.
Learner examples
I can whistle a song.
El tudok fütyülni egy dalt.
She whistles when she is happy.
Fütyül, amikor boldog.
The man whistles for his dog.
We whistle to call our friend.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'whistle' with 'blow', but 'blow' does not always mean making a musical or sharp sound.
Meaning
Make a high-pitched sound with lips
Collocations
whistle a tune
|whistle loudly
|whistle softly
|whistle happily
Synonyms
blow (General term for sending air out of the mouth; not specific to producing a musical note.)
Antonyms
stay silent (Refers to making no sound, the opposite of whistling.)
Themes
daily life
|music
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make a high sound by blowing air through your lips or teeth.
To make a high, clear sound by blowing air through pursed lips or a small hole.
NOUN
A2
2
síp
A2
The coach blew his whistle to start the game.
Az edző a sípjába fújt, hogy elkezdődjön a meccs.
She carries a whistle for safety when jogging at night.
Síp van nála biztonság kedvéért, amikor éjszaka kocog.
The lifeguard's whistle signaled everyone to get out of the water.
A sharp whistle cut through the noise of the crowd.
Learner examples
The teacher has a whistle.
A tanárnál van egy síp.
The man blows the whistle at the game.
A férfi belefúj a sípba a meccsen.
I use a whistle to call my dog.
Meaning
Small device making sharp sound
Collocations
blow a whistle
|referee's whistle
|police whistle
|safety whistle
Synonyms
hooter (Informal British term, usually for vehicle horns or other loud devices, not always handheld.)
Antonyms
silencer (A device that reduces or removes sound, opposite in function to a whistle.)
Themes
sports
|safety
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A small thing you blow into to make a loud sound.
A small instrument that produces a loud, high-pitched sound when air is blown into it, often used for signaling.
VERB
B1
3
The wind whistled through the cracks in the window.
Az ablak résein át süvített a szél.
A bullet whistled past his ear.
Egy golyó süvített el a füle mellett.
Steam whistled from the kettle.
Learner examples
The wind whistles in the night.
Éjszaka süvít a szél.
Steam whistles from the pot.
A fazékból sípolva áramlik ki a gőz.
A train whistles as it comes.
Meaning
Object makes high-pitched sound from air
Collocations
wind whistles
|whistle through the trees
|whistle past
Synonyms
whoosh (Suggests a rushing sound of air, but lacks the musical pitch of 'whistle'.)
Antonyms
remain quiet (No audible sound produced.)
Themes
nature
|sounds
|core_vocabulary
Definition
When something makes a high sound because air moves through it.
(Of something) to produce a high-pitched sound when air passes through or over it.
VERB
A2
INFORMAL
4
Usage pattern:
to whistle [someone] over/to [someone]
She whistled for the dog to come back.
Füttyentett a kutyának, hogy jöjjön vissza.
He whistled me over to his table.
Odafüttyentett, hogy menjek az asztalához.
The guard whistled for backup.
Learner examples
I whistle for my cat.
Füttyel hívom a macskámat.
He whistles to his friend.
Füttyent a barátjának.
They whistle for help.
Meaning
Signal or call using whistling sound
Collocations
whistle for help
|whistle someone over
Synonyms
call (General term for trying to get someone's attention; not necessarily by whistling.)
Antonyms
ignore (To deliberately not attract attention or signal someone.)
Themes
communication
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To call or signal someone by making a whistling sound.
To attract someone's attention or give a signal by making a whistling sound with the mouth or a whistle device.
NOUN
A2
INFORMAL
5
A loud whistle signaled the end of the match.
Hangos sípszó jelezte a mérkőzés végét.
She gave a low whistle of appreciation.
Halk, elismerő füttyöt hallatott.
I heard the whistle from across the field.
Learner examples
I hear a whistle in the park.
Füttyöt hallok a parkban.
He gives a loud whistle.
Hangosat füttyent.
We hear the whistle from far away.
Meaning
Act of making whistling sound
Collocations
give a whistle
|sharp whistle
Synonyms
toot (Short, sharp sound, often from a horn rather than lips.)
Antonyms
silence (Absence of any sound.)
Themes
daily life
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Definition
The sound made when you whistle with your lips or a small thing you blow into.
The act or sound of producing a high-pitched tone by blowing air through pursed lips or a device.
Grammar
Dictionary form
whistle
IPA
GB/wˈɪsəl/
US/wˈɪsəl/
Syllables & stress
whistle (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (whistle)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: whistle
- Plural: whistles
Verb
- Base: whistle
- 3rd Person Singular: whistles
- Present Participle: whistling
- Past: whistled
Word family
Forms
whistles
noun
whistling
verb
whistled
verb
Core family
whistler
noun
Advanced or less common
whistleblower
noun C1
Expressions
as clean as a whistle
1/ˈæz klˈin ˈæz ə wˈɪsəl/
idiom
informal
Extremely clean and neat
Very clean and tidy with no dirt at all.
Examples
- The kitchen was as clean as a whistle after she finished cleaning.
- His record is as clean as a whistle—he's never been in trouble.
blow the final whistle
1/blˈoʊ ðə fˈaɪnəl wˈɪsəl/
fixed phrase
Signal that something has ended officially
To show that something, like a game, is finished by blowing a whistle.
Examples
- The referee blew the final whistle and the match was over.
- They blew the final whistle on negotiations after months without progress.
blow the whistle on [someone/something]
1/blˈoʊ ðə wˈɪsəl ˈɔn sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ/
idiom
Report someone's wrongdoing publicly
To tell people in power about someone's bad or illegal actions.
Examples
- The accountant blew the whistle on the company's tax fraud.
- She decided to blow the whistle on her corrupt boss.
wet your whistle
1/wˈɛt jˈʊɹ wˈɪsəl/
idiom
informal
Have a drink to quench thirst
To have a drink, usually alcohol, when you are thirsty.
Examples
- Let's wet our whistles before we hit the road.
- He stopped at the bar to wet his whistle after work.