susurró
Wordform Details
Translation: whisperedmuttered
Part of Speech: verb
Inflection Type:
third-personsingularpreteriteindicativeIs Dictionary Form: No
Dictionary Form Details
Lemma Details
Translation: to whisper; to murmur; to rustle
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: From Latin 'susurrare', meaning 'to whisper' or 'to hum'. Related to the English word 'susurration' (whispering or rustling sound)
Commonality: 60%
Guessability: 30%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of the 'sss' sound in the word - it's the sound you make when whispering!
- Remember that 'sur' in 'susurrar' sounds like the beginning of 'surround' - whispers often surround you softly
Synonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
Often used in literature and poetry to create atmosphere. In Spanish culture, whispering is sometimes seen as impolite in social settings as it can exclude others from conversation.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'susurrar' means to whisper, 'silbar' means to whistle
Confused word:
Silbó una melodía alegre.
He whistled a happy tune.
Notes: Both involve making sounds with your mouth, but susurrar is quiet and breathy while silbar is musical and projected
Mnemonic: 'Silbar' starts with 'sil' like 'silly' - think of making silly whistling sounds