WIS-purz
/ˈwɪspɚz/
whispers is pronounced WIS-purz (/ˈwɪspɚz/). Whispers refers to speaking softly, with a low volume and often with breathy voice, used to convey secrecy or intimacy. It can also describe the act or sound of murmuring in a hushed tone. This word encompasses both the action and the resulting sound, frequently signaling subtlety or discretion in conversation.
Whispers refers to speaking softly, with a low volume and often with breathy voice, used to convey secrecy or intimacy. It can also describe the act or sound of murmuring in a hushed tone. This word encompasses both the action and the resulting sound, frequently signaling subtlety or discretion in conversation.
"She leaned in, whispering the plan so only he could hear."
"The museum’s whispers of the old corridors gave her chills."
"In the library, she spoke in whispers to avoid disturbing others."
Pronounced WHIS-pers with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US /ˈwɪspərz/, UK /ˈwɪspəz/, AU /ˈwɪspəz/. Start with /w/ then /ɪ/ as in 'bit', follow with /s/ and the palato-alveolar /sp/ cluster, then a soft /ər/ or /əz/ depending on accent, and end with /z/. Keep the vowel of second syllable relaxed; avoid an extra syllable. Audio reference: listen to Cambridge or Forvo recordings for native variation.
Common errors: (1) Mispronouncing the /w/ or turning /wɪspərz/ into /hwɪspərz/; ensure the /w/ is smooth, not a breathy start. (2) Overemphasizing the second syllable’s vowel, producing /ˈwɪs-pərz/ with a tense /ɜː/; aim for a quick, lax /ər/ or /əz/. (3) Dropping the /z/ at the end or voicing it as /s/; keep the final /z/ to voice, like /-z/ in 'buzz'.
US: rhotic /ɹ/ in r-colored vowels; final /z/ clearly voiced. UK: non-rhotic; second syllable often reduced to /əz/ with less /ər/; AU: similar to UK but with more vowel width; final /z/ may be slightly devoiced in rapid speech. In all, the onset /w/ remains stable; the middle /ɪ/ is short; the /sp/ cluster remains, but the second vowel quality varies (schwa vs. a centralized vowel). IPA references help compare: US /ˈwɪspərz/, UK /ˈwɪspəz/, AU /ˈwɪspəz/.
Difficulty comes from the /w/ onset blending into /ɪ/ and the /sp/ cluster, which requires precise tongue positioning to avoid adding a vowel between /s/ and /p/. The final /z/ is voiced, which can be tricky for learners who over-aspirate or devoice endings. Also, Americans often reduce the second syllable to a schwa or a rhotacized variant, which changes cadence. Focused practice with the /wɪsp/ sequence and the final voiced z helps stabilize pronunciation.
Note the two-syllable rhythm with primary stress on the first syllable and a quick, light second syllable. The /sp/ cluster should be produced with a clean buildup: start with lips near before releasing air through the teeth, then glide into /ər/ or /əz/ depending on accent. Practice with minimal pair: whispers vs. whiskers or whispers vs. physicists to feel the difference in syllable count and final voicing.
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Whisper originates from the Old English word wisperian, attested as wispa in early Germanic sources, linked to Proto-Germanic wis- meaning ‘to murmur’ and the root form of breath or wind. The modern spelling and sense emerged through Middle English as whisperen, evolving from a Germanic compound that captured the sound of low, close speech. The term’s semantic development traces from a tactile sense of breath or exhalation (to speak in a soft breath) to a communicative act conducted in secrecy or intimacy. By the 16th century, whispers denoted both the act of murmuring and the soft sound itself, often tied to concealment or shared confidences. In contemporary English, whispers retain dual usage: the verb (to whisper) and the noun (a whisper), with the plural form “whispers” frequently describing instances of hushed speaking or rumors as in “the whispers of a rumor mill.” The word’s phonological form aligns with the unreleased consonant cluster within the word (wh- + -sip-), reflecting a typical English blend pattern where the voiceless aspiration pairs with a soft vowel, contributing to its characteristic gentle cadence across dialects.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "whispers" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "whispers"
-ers sounds
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