Sibilant is used in linguisticsThe study of language and how it works. for sounds that come out with a hissingMaking a sharp, snake-like sound. or hushing quality. It can describe speech sounds as an adjective, or refer to a hissing consonantA speech sound made with some blockage of airflow. as a noun.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈsɪbələnt/
Easy pronunciation: SIB-uh-lent (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress is on the first syllable.
Use this for the adjective meaning describing a hissing speech sound.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Sibilant Meaning
describing a hissing speech sound
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: of speech sounds produced by forcing air through a narrow passage, creating a hissing quality
Example: The word begins with a sibilant sound.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- fricative — A standard linguistic term for this kind of consonant sound.
- spirant — An older or technical term for a fricative sound.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Sibilant
Meaning 2
a hissing consonant sound
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a consonant characterized by a hissing sound, like s or sh
Example: In phonetics, /s/ is a sibilant.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- sibilant consonant — Direct noun equivalent for this sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Sibilant Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- fricative
- spirant
noun: a consonant with a hissing sound
- sibilant consonant
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using sibilant as a general word for anything loud or annoying; it specifically refers to hissing speech sounds.
- Mixing up the adjective sense with the noun sense: sibilant can describe a sound, or it can name the consonant itself.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does sibilant mean?
Sibilant means having a hissing quality, especially when describing speech sounds. It can also be used as a noun for a hissing consonant sound.
What is a sibilant sound?
A sibilant sound is a speech sound made with a strong hissing quality, such as /s/ or /sh/.
What are synonyms for sibilant?
For the adjective sense, close synonyms include fricative and spirant. For the noun sense, the direct equivalent is sibilant consonant.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
