sussurro
/susˈsur.ro/
The Italian word for 'whisper' is sussurro.
sussurro is used to refer to the act of speaking in a quiet voice. It is also the related noun meaning 'a whisper'. If you want to express the action of whispering itself, the most common and versatile verb is sussurrare.
Meaning: talk in a quiet voice (verb)
Which one should you use?
While sussurro can mean the noun 'a whisper', it can also serve as the third-person singular present tense of the verb 'to whisper' (he/she whispers). For the infinitive 'to whisper', use sussurrare.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb form for 'to whisper' is sussurrare. The word sussurro functions as both a noun and a conjugated verb form.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 2nd syllable. The IPA is /susˈsur.ro/.
Did you know?
- The word sussurro comes from the Latin 'susurrus', a word that is onomatopoeic, meaning it was designed to sound like the very sound of a whisper.
- The word 'bisbiglio', a synonym for a whispered sound, is often used in Italian to describe a 'rumor' or 'gossip' spreading through a crowd.
- While 'sussurrare' is the standard verb, if you want to describe someone speaking under their breath in a secretive or conspiratorial way, you might use the verb 'bisbigliare'.
Examples in context
- Con un leggero sussurro, il fantasma mi fece cenno di avvicinarmi, esortandomi ad ascoltare.With a soft whisper, the ghost beckoned me closer, urging me to listen.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use sussurro to describe a soft whisper.Tatoeba #13682430 by Nuel, translation #13682429 by Nuel
- Sussurrò le parole all'orecchio di suo padreHe whispered the words to his father
- Abbiamo bisbigliato lungo il fiumeWe whispered along the river
- Si mormorava dietro le quinteThey whispered behind the scenes
- Sono i tuoi segreti che sussurro al ventoI whisper your secrets to the wind
- Durante il romanticismo italiano, gli amanti sussurravano parole dolciDuring Italian romanticism, lovers whispered sweet words
- Avvicinati, devo dirti qualcosa sottovoceCome closer, I need to tell you something in a whisper
- I bambini sussurrarono piano mentre giocavano a nascondinoThe children whispered softly while playing hide-and-seek
- Non sussurro mai durante i film.I never whisper during movies.
- Sussurro perché il bambino dorme.I whisper because the baby is sleeping.
Example conversation
Martina and Matteo are in a library.
- MartinaPerché sussurro? Dobbiamo stare in silenzio.Why am I whispering? We have to be quiet.
- MatteoHai ragione, Martina. Scusa se ho parlato forte.You are right, Martina. Sorry for speaking loudly.
- MartinaVa bene, Matteo. Ora sussurro solo l'essenziale.It's okay, Matteo. Now I only whisper the essentials.
- MatteoPerfetto, così non ci cacciano via.Perfect, that way they won't kick us out.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry sussurro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sussurro, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
