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German vocabulary · Beginner

How do you say "whistle" in German?

pfeifen

Verb

In German, "whistle" is pfeifen.

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Pronunciation

Pronounced 'PFEYE-fen', stress on the first syllable, with 'pf' pronounced as a quick p-f blend and 'ei' as 'eye'.

Grammar notes

pfeifen is a verb (infinitive form). Use it after modal verbs, or conjugate it to match the subject.

Example sentence

Er pfeift gerne, während er arbeitet.

He likes to whistle while he works.

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How to remember pfeifen

Pfeifen sounds like the whistling noise itself if you say it fast, 'pfeye-fen', a bit like a sharp whistle blast.

Related words

Browse all German words in the glossary.

Questions about pfeifen

How do you say "whistle" in German?

In German, "whistle" is pfeifen. It is a verb.

How is pfeifen used in a sentence?

Use pfeifen as you would use the equivalent verb in English. For example: Er pfeift gerne, während er arbeitet. (He likes to whistle while he works.).

Where can I practice German words for free?

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"Whistle" in other languages

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