El niño comenzó a silbar una melodía alegre.
(The boy started to whistle a cheerful tune.)
Ella puede silbar muy bien, como un pájaro.
(She can whistle very well, like a bird.)
Durante el juego, el árbitro decidió silbar para detener la acción.
(During the game, the referee decided to whistle to stop the action.)
Silbar is also found in various idiomatic expressions in Spanish, contributing to its rich usage:
Silbar al viento
To whistle in the wind - Refers to making an effort that goes unnoticed or unappreciated.
Example: Sus advertencias eran como silbar al viento; nadie las escuchó.
(His warnings were like whistling in the wind; nobody listened to them.)
Silbar sin parar
To whistle non-stop - Indicates someone who is very cheerful or energetic.
Example: Desde que empezó el viaje, no para de silbar sin parar.
(Since the trip started, he hasn't stopped whistling.)
Silbar en la oscuridad
To whistle in the dark - To do something blind or without fully understanding the consequences.
Example: Intentar iniciar un negocio sin planear es como silbar en la oscuridad.
(Trying to start a business without planning is like whistling in the dark.)
The word silbar comes from the Latin term sibilare, which means to hiss or whistle. This Latin root ultimately relates to the sound produced during the action of whistling.
Chiflar (to whistle)
Antonyms: There are no direct antonyms for “silbar,” as it describes a specific action that does not have an opposite. However, in contexts of sound, one might consider "silenciar" (to silence) as a contextual opposite in terms of stopping noise.