How to Say "to whisper" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to whisper” is “susurrar” — use 'susurrar' when referring to the act of speaking very softly, often to share a secret or speak privately, directly translating the English 'to whisper'..
susurrar
/soo-soo-RAHR//susuˈraɾ/
Examples
Ella me susurró un secreto al oído.
She whispered a secret in my ear.
No grites en la biblioteca, tienes que susurrar.
Don't shout in the library, you have to whisper.
Los niños estaban susurrando en clase para que el profesor no los oyera.
The children were whispering in class so the teacher wouldn't hear them.
Using 'Le' with Whispering
When you whisper TO someone, you usually need to use a word like 'le' or 'me' to show who is hearing it. For example: 'Le susurré la verdad' (I whispered the truth to him/her).
A Fully Regular Verb
Good news! This verb follows all the standard rules for verbs ending in -ar. There are no surprise spelling changes.
Don't forget the 'a'
Mistake: “Susurré mi madre.”
Correction: Susurré a mi madre (or 'Le susurré a mi madre'). Always use 'a' before the person you are whispering to.
murmurar
/moor-moo-RAHR//muɾmuˈɾaɾ/
Examples
Ella murmuró algo en mi oído.
She whispered something in my ear.
No murmures, habla más fuerte para que todos te oigan.
Don't mutter; speak louder so everyone can hear you.
El niño murmuraba una canción mientras jugaba.
The boy was humming a song under his breath while he played.
Using 'murmurar' for soft sounds
Unlike English 'mumble,' which usually implies you're doing something wrong, 'murmurar' can just mean speaking very quietly or sweetly.
Choosing between murmurar and susurrar
Mistake: “Using 'murmurar' when you specifically mean a romantic or secret whisper.”
Correction: Use 'susurrar' for intentional, soft whispers; use 'murmurar' more for talking under your breath or complaining quietly.
suspirar
/soos-pee-RAR//sus.piˈɾaɾ/
Examples
Ella suspiró de alivio cuando vio que el examen era fácil.
She sighed with relief when she saw the exam was easy.
No paraba de suspirar mientras miraba la foto de su familia.
He couldn't stop sighing while looking at the photo of his family.
El viento suspira entre los pinos de la montaña.
The wind sighs through the pine trees on the mountain.
Showing Emotions
When you want to say why you are sighing, use the word 'de' followed by the emotion, like 'suspirar de tristeza' (to sigh with sadness).
A Regular Friend
This verb follows the standard pattern for all '-ar' verbs, so once you know the basics, you can conjugate this one perfectly!
Using 'con' for Relief
Mistake: “Suspiró con alivio.”
Correction: Suspiró de alivio. In Spanish, we use 'de' to show the cause of a physical reaction like sighing or crying.
Confusing 'susurrar' and 'murmurar'
Related Translations
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