word
Literary
sibilance
SIB-ih-lents
ˈsɪbɪlənsListen
Hear it in a clear American voice. Slow it down to catch each syllable.
Syllable breakdown
sibilance
Dictionary meaning
The sound produced by sibilant consonants — the 's' and 'sh' sounds; a hissing quality in speech or verse.
History and origin
Latin — 'sibilans' (hissing).
Examples
- The poem's sibilance — with snakes, silk, and soft sighs — created an unsettling, sensuous effect.
Learn one new pronunciation a day
Get a word, name or idiom like “sibilance” in your inbox — daily or weekly, free. Unsubscribe any time.
Something wrong? Suggest a correction