murmurar
“murmurar” means “to whisper” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
to whisper, to mutter
Also: to mumble
📝 In Action
Ella murmuró algo en mi oído.
A2She whispered something in my ear.
No murmures, habla más fuerte para que todos te oigan.
B1Don't mutter; speak louder so everyone can hear you.
El niño murmuraba una canción mientras jugaba.
B1The boy was humming a song under his breath while he played.
to gossip
Also: to backbite
📝 In Action
La gente siempre murmura sobre su vida privada.
B1People are always gossiping about her private life.
Es de mala educación murmurar de los demás.
B2It is rude to talk behind other people's backs.
to murmur, to rustle
📝 In Action
Podíamos oír el río murmurar entre las piedras.
C1We could hear the river murmuring among the stones.
El viento murmuraba entre las hojas de los árboles.
C1The wind rustled through the leaves of the trees.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "murmurar" in Spanish:
to backbite→to gossip→to mumble→to murmur→to mutter→to rustle→to whisper→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: murmurar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence means 'Don't gossip about me'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'murmurare,' which was an onomatopoeic word, meaning the word itself was created to sound like the soft, humming noise of whispering.
First recorded: 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'murmurar' always a bad thing?
Not at all! While it can mean gossiping (bad) or complaining (neutral), it also describes the beautiful sounds of nature or a mother whispering to a child.
What is the difference between 'murmurar' and 'chismear'?
'Chismear' is much more informal and specifically means to gossip for fun. 'Murmurar' sounds slightly more serious or refers to the actual low volume of the voice.
Can I use 'murmurar' for a computer or a motor?
Yes! If a machine is making a soft, steady, low-frequency hum, you can poetically say it is 'murmurando'.