verb
whinny
WIH-nee
Whinny (verb) means of a horse, to make a soft, gentle neighing sound. Example: “The mare whinnied softly as her foal approached.”
verb
1
Of a horse, to make a soft, gentle neighing sound.
"A pony whinnied a short distance from the hut."
— , Edgar Rice Burroughs (1914)
"The mare whinnied softly as her foal approached."
noun
1
A soft neighing sound made by a horse.
"A quiet whinny came from the stable as we walked past."
How to use whinny
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe gentle sound a horse makes, quieter than a full neigh.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like whinny.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- whinnies
- Third person singular
- whinnies
- Past tense
- whinnied
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A quiet _____ came from the stable as we walked past.
Etymology
From Middle English whinien, related to whine — both describe a drawn-out vocal sound.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for whinny
See all rhymes for whinny →Frequently asked questions
What does “whinny” mean?
The word “whinny” means of a horse, to make a soft, gentle neighing sound. In plain terms, the gentle sound a horse makes, quieter than a full neigh.
How do you pronounce “whinny”?
“Whinny” is pronounced WIH-nee (/ˈwɪni/ in IPA).
How do you use “whinny” in a sentence?
Here is “whinny” used in a sentence: “A quiet whinny came from the stable as we walked past.”
What part of speech is “whinny”?
Depending on how it is used, “whinny” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “whinny” come from?
The word “whinny” comes from Middle English. From Middle English whinien, related to whine — both describe a drawn-out vocal sound.
How many meanings does “whinny” have?
“Whinny” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: of a horse, to make a soft, gentle neighing sound.
