Sussurrus
/suːˈsʊr.əs/noun
A whispering, murmuring, or rustling sound.
Did you know?In Latin, *sussurrus* was an onomatopoeic word for whispering or murmuring, and its family gave English the rare verb *susurrate*, a word that still feels like something spoken in a candlelit ritual.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*swes- / *sweus-
“An imitative base associated with hissing, whispering, or murmuring sounds”
Latin
Latin
susurrus
“A whispering, murmur, or soft rustling sound”
Late Latin
Latin
susurrāre
“To whisper or murmur repeatedly”
Middle English
English
susurren
“To whisper or murmur softly”
Modern English
English
susurrus
“A whispering or rustling sound”