silbar
Lemma Details
Translation: to whistle; to hiss; to boo; to whiz; to whistle at
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: Silbar comes from Latin 'sibilare' meaning 'to hiss' or 'to whistle', which is also the source of English words like 'sibilant' (referring to hissing sounds in phonetics). The Latin root 'sibil-' is onomatopoeic, imitating the sound of whistling or hissing. This connection to sound-based origins makes it easier to remember the meaning.
Commonality: 70%
Guessability: 30%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
El público empezó a silbar cuando el árbitro tomó esa decisión.
The audience started to boo when the referee made that decision.
Me gusta silbar mientras trabajo.
I like to whistle while I work.
La bala silbó al pasar cerca de su cabeza.
The bullet whizzed as it passed close to his head.
Los hombres en la calle silbaron a la mujer que pasaba.
The men in the street whistled at the woman who was passing by.
Mnemonics
- Think of the 'sib' in 'sibilant' (hissing sounds) to remember silbar means 'to whistle' or 'to hiss'
- Imagine the sound 'sssss' (like a snake) to connect with silbar's meaning of hissing
- The word sounds a bit like 'silver' - imagine a silver whistle making a high-pitched sound
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Cultural Context
In Spanish culture, silbar (whistling) can have various meanings depending on context. It can express appreciation (as for a performer), disapproval (as for a poor performance or disagreement with a referee in sports), or be used to call someone's attention. In some rural areas of Spain, especially in the Canary Islands, there exists a whistled language called 'Silbo Gomero' used to communicate across long distances in mountainous terrain.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While silbar means 'to whistle', sembrar means 'to sow' or 'to plant'. They look somewhat similar but have completely different meanings.
Notes: The conjugation patterns are different: silbar follows regular -ar verb patterns, while sembrar has an e→ie stem change in some forms.
Mnemonic: Silbar has an 'L' like 'lip' (you use lips to whistle); sembrar has an 'M' like 'mud' (where you plant seeds).
Explanation: Silbar (to whistle) and silenciar (to silence) both start with 'sil-' but have opposite meanings - one is about making sound, the other about stopping sound.
Confused word:
El gobierno intentó silenciar a los críticos.
The government tried to silence the critics.
Notes: Both relate to sound, but in opposite ways.
Mnemonic: Silbar adds sound (whistling), silenciar removes sound (silencing).