sibilate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareFormal/Technical
Quick answer
What does “sibilate” mean?
To utter with a hissing sound, as in pronouncing the sounds /s/ or /ʃ/.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To utter with a hissing sound, as in pronouncing the sounds /s/ or /ʃ/.
To produce any sharp, hissing sound; to speak or articulate with a sibilant quality, often associated with secrecy, menace, or emphasis.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or grammatical differences. The word is equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
In literary contexts, may slightly more often connote sinister or conspiratorial whispering in British English, while American English might use it more neutrally for phonetic description.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both, found almost exclusively in academic linguistic texts, poetry, or high-register prose.
Grammar
How to Use “sibilate” in a Sentence
[Subject] sibilates [Object] (transitive)[Subject] sibilates (intransitive)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sibilate” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The steam pipe began to sibilate ominously in the cellar.
- He would sibilate his threats through clenched teeth.
American English
- The radiator sibilated quietly in the corner of the room.
- She sibilated the secret password into his ear.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in phonetics/phonology to describe the articulation of sibilant consonants.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
The primary domain; used in linguistic analysis, speech therapy, and sound engineering.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sibilate”
- Using it as a noun (e.g., 'a sibilate' is incorrect).
- Confusing it with 'sibilant', which is the related adjective/noun for the sound itself.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a rare, formal word used primarily in technical linguistic contexts or descriptive literature.
'Hiss' is the common, general term for a sharp, sustained 's' sound. 'Sibilate' is a more technical or literary synonym, often focusing on the act of producing such a sound, especially in speech.
Yes, it can be used poetically or descriptively for any sound resembling a hiss, such as escaping steam, wind, or static.
Not directly. The related noun is 'sibilance' or 'sibilation', referring to the quality or act of making a hissing sound.
To utter with a hissing sound, as in pronouncing the sounds /s/ or /ʃ/.
Sibilate is usually formal/technical in register.
Sibilate: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɪbɪleɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɪbəˌleɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SIlly BILL (SIBIL) who always speaks with a strong lisp, making him 'sibilate' his words.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPEECH IS A KIND OF WIND (hissing wind).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'sibilate' MOST likely to be used professionally?