Spanish Conversation · Level 51
74 words
Spanish word
pito
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈpito/
Meaning
- masculine nounwhistle
Example
El árbitro sopló el pito.
The referee blew the whistle.
More examples
En la protesta, un manifestante sopló un pito para llamar la atención.
At the protest, a demonstrator blew a whistle to attract attention.
Core concept
Handheld whistle blown to signal attention or give brief signals.
Common phrases
sonar un pito
a whistle sounds
soplar un pito
blow a whistle
un pito de protesta
a protest whistle
Similar words
silbato: Neutral small handheld whistle for signaling starts and stops in sports and officiating.
silbido: Thin, high-pitched sound from the mouth or from the wind.
pitido: Short, high-pitched warning beep from machines or cars.
claxon: Loud, forceful vehicle horn for warning or drawing attention.
Definition in Spanish
Objeto hueco y pequeño que al soplar produce un sonido agudo.
Word origin
Likely built from an imitative sound like 'pi' plus a nominal ending, naming the brief piping noise produced by such an instrument.
Usage tips
- Silbato is the more neutral or formal term for a whistle, while pito is colloquial and can be taken in a coarse sense in off-color contexts.