sibilante (spanish) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

• Adjective

Phonetic Transcription

• /si.biˈlan.te/

Translation Options into English

• Sibilant

Meaning and Usage

The word sibilante refers to sounds that are characterized by a hissing or whistling quality, typically produced by forcing air through a narrow channel made by placing part of the tongue close to the roof of the mouth. In the context of linguistics, it specifically describes certain consonants, such as /s/, /ʃ/, and /z/, which have this hissing or hushing sound.

In medicine, particularly in the field of audiology and speech therapy, sibilante may refer to specific disorders characterized by the misarticulation of these sounds.

In terms of frequency of use, sibilante is more commonly encountered in written context, especially in academic texts or linguistic studies, as opposed to everyday oral speech, where more colloquial terms might be used.

Example Sentences

1. La letra "s" es un sonido sibilante en la lengua española.

2. The letter "s" is a sibilant sound in the Spanish language.

3. Los niños a menudo tienen dificultad para pronunciar sonidos sibilantes correctamente.

4. Children often have difficulty pronouncing sibilant sounds correctly.

5. En el examen de audición, noté que había una falta de claridad en los sonidos sibilantes.

6. In the hearing test, I noticed there was a lack of clarity in the sibilant sounds.

Idiomatic Expressions

Although sibilante may not frequently appear in idiomatic expressions, it can be associated with certain phrases in literature or speech that underscore stealth or subtlety, akin to the nature of the sound itself.

1. Su voz era tan sibilante que podía convencer a cualquiera de lo que decía.

2. Her voice was so sibilant that she could convince anyone of what she said.

3. Las palabras sibilantes de la serpiente susurraban peligros en la oscuridad.

4. The sibilant words of the snake whispered dangers in the darkness.

5. En un tono sibilante, el traidor comunicó sus intenciones ocultas.

6. In a sibilant tone, the traitor communicated his hidden intentions.

Etymology

The word sibilante originates from the Latin word sibilans, which is the present participle of sibilare, meaning "to hiss." The root reflects the characteristic sound associated with the term.

Synonyms and Antonyms

• Synonyms:
• Susurrante (whispering)

• Silbante (whistling)

• Antonyms:

• Sonoro (sonorous)
• Grave (deep)

In summary, sibilante is an important linguistic term denoting a specific category of sounds associated with hissing, with applications in both linguistics and, to a lesser extent, medicine. Its subtlety and unique auditory quality contribute to its implications in various contexts.