WIS-pur-ing
/ˈwɪspɚɪŋ/
whispering is pronounced WIS-pur-ing (/ˈwɪspɚɪŋ/). Whispering is the act of speaking softly and using a breathy voice without vibrating the vocal folds. It conveys secrecy or intimacy and can carry sensory nuances of caution or suspense. As a gerund/participle, it often describes ongoing action or a manner of speaking rather than a specific utterance.
Whispering is the act of speaking softly and using a breathy voice without vibrating the vocal folds. It conveys secrecy or intimacy and can carry sensory nuances of caution or suspense. As a gerund/participle, it often describes ongoing action or a manner of speaking rather than a specific utterance.
"She leaned in and whispered the password, her words barely audible in the crowded room."
"The forest was quiet, and we moved with whispering steps to avoid waking the sleeping campers."
"He spoke in a whispering tone to ensure the message wouldn’t be overheard."
Pronounce as /ˈwɪs.pə.rɪŋ/ in many accents. Primary stress on the first syllable: WIS-puh-ring. The middle syllable reduces to a schwa /ə/. The final -ing is /ɪŋ/. Use light lip rounding on /w/ and keep the tongue relaxed for /ɪ/ and /ə/; avoid tensing the jaw on the second syllable. Listening example: 'WHIS-puh-ring' with a gentle breathy onset.
Common errors: overemphasizing the middle syllable (/pə/) to make it /ˈwɪs.pɒ.rɪŋ/; dropping the /r/ in the second syllable in non-rhotic accents, or converting /ɪ/ to a more tense vowel. Correct by keeping a light, relaxed /ə/ for the second syllable and ensuring the final /ɪŋ/ is soft but clear. Practice by saying WIS-uh-ring quickly, then slower, listening for a natural schwa in the middle and a crisp final nasal.
US English typically yields /ˈwɪs.pə.rɪŋ/ with rhotic /r/ and a clear /ɪ/ in the first syllable. UK English often reduces the middle to /ə/ and may omit postvocalic /r/ in non-rhotic variants, giving /ˈwɪs.pə.rɪŋ/ or /ˈwɪs.pəː.rɪŋ/ depending on familiarity with the accent. Australian English follows a similar pattern to US but with slightly more centralized vowel qualities and a quicker, flatter intonation; final /ɪŋ/ remains standard. All share the initial /w/ and final /ŋ/.
The difficulty lies in achieving the right balance of breathiness and consonant clarity while maintaining a crisp /s/ release within a soft voice. The middle syllable relies on a neutral schwa that doesn’t over-expand, and the final /ɪŋ/ must be silent enough to convey softness but not so weak it sounds like inaudible. Achieving natural connected speech with accurate stress and reduced vowels is the key challenge.
The unique feature is maintaining breathy voicing without voicing the vowels too loudly, especially in rapid speech. Focus on a light, rapid onset of /w/ followed by a soft /ɪ/ and a subtle /s/. The middle /ə/ should be quick and unobtrusive, and the final /ɪŋ/ should be pointed but not sharp. Practicing with a mirror to watch lip movement can help ensure the sound remains soft yet audible.
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Whispering derives from the verb whisper, which comes from Old English wisperian, related to wisperian meaning to murmur or speak softly. The root wis- hints at secrecy or a hushed sound, while -perian is a common verb-forming suffix in early Germanic languages. By Middle English, whispering appeared as a present participle form used to describe ongoing action. The semantic shift centers on vocal production with reduced amplitude and breathy phonation, emphasizing the manner rather than the content of speech. Over time, whispering retained connotations of secrecy, intimacy, and stealth, extending into figurative uses such as whispering campaigns or whispered rumors. First known written attestations appear in medieval English texts, aligning with the broader cultural emphasis on discretion in personal and political communication. In contemporary usage, whispering often signals tone, relationship dynamics, or stylistic choice in dialogue and narration, while preserving its phonetic core: a short, breathy onset followed by low-intensity voicing and a soft end. The evolution mirrors changes in pronunciation norms and the adoption of the gerund form in modern grammar, where whispering acts as a noun adjunct or verb form across contexts.
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Words that rhyme with "whispering"
-ing sounds
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