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French vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "whistle" in French?
siffler
In French, "whistle" is siffler.
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Pronunciation
This is see-FLAY, with a hissing s sound at the start and stress on the final ay.
Grammar notes
siffler is a verb used the same way as its English equivalent.
Example sentence
Il aime siffler pendant qu’il travaille.
He likes to whistle while he works.
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How to remember siffler
A referee's whistle makes a sifflement, so siffler is easy to connect to that piercing sound.
Related words
- yawn bâiller
- hiccup hoqueter
- blink cligner des yeux
- stretch s’étirer
- bend plier
- kneel s’agenouiller
- squat s'accroupir
- compare comparer
- contrast contraster
Browse all French words in the glossary.
Questions about siffler
How do you pronounce siffler?
This is see-FLAY, with a hissing s sound at the start and stress on the final ay.
Is siffler formal or casual?
siffler is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech.
How is siffler used in French?
siffler is used the same way as the equivalent English verb. For example: Il aime siffler pendant qu’il travaille. (He likes to whistle while he works.).
Where can I practice French words for free?
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"Whistle" in other languages
Curated by Jack Ratcliffe
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