Proper Pronunciation Guide

whistle

[hwɪ sḷ]

Tips:

  • Pronounce the letters “wh” as “hw” so that the word begins with a slight
    /h/.
  • Do not pronounce the letter “t” nor the letter “e” at the end of the word.
  • The second syllable consists only of the consonant
    /s/ followed by a syllabic “l”—
    /ḷ/, which takes the place of a vowel in forming the syllable.

Practice Sentences:

 He tried to whistle but couldn't.
The tea kettle on the stove was whistling.
He whistled a happy tune.
She gave the child a toy whistle.

Notes:

When words end in -stle, the letter “t” is silent: apostle, castle, jostle, hustle. While it is true that many speakers do not pronounce the /h/ in the /hw/ combination, the presence of the consonant /h/ evokes the air movement associated with what the word describes. See whisper and whip.

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