How to pronounce whistling
Say it like WIS-ling. Whistling has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WIS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce whistling. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WIS
- ling
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Whistling pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WISSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- lingKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of whistling
American and British speakers say whistling in essentially the same way: /ˈwɪslɪŋ/ in the US and /ˈwɪslɪŋ/ in the UK.
British respelling: WIS-ling.
What does whistling mean?
- present participle and gerund of whistle How to pronounce whistle
- A shrill, breathy sound; a whistle.
Where does whistling come from?
Inherited from Middle English whistlynge, equivalent to whistle + -ing.
Questions about saying whistling
How do you pronounce whistling?
Say WIS-ling. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɪslɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˈwɪslɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in whistling?
Whistling has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WIS). Broken into parts: WIS · ling.
Do Americans and Brits say whistling the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈwɪslɪŋ/ and the British form is /ˈwɪslɪŋ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.