Susurration
/ˌsuː.səˈreɪ.ʃən/noun
A soft whispering or rustling sound.
Did you know?Susurration comes from Latin *susurrāre*, “to whisper,” a word built from the eerie little repeated sound itself—language imitating a secret being spoken in the dark.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*swes-
“A root associated with hissing or whispering sounds.”
Latin
Latin
susurrāre
“To whisper, buzz softly, or murmur.”
Late Latin
Latin
susurrātiō
“A whispering or murmuring sound.”
Middle French
Old French
susurration
“A whispering, rustling, or murmuring.”
16th Century
English
susurration
“A soft whispering or rustling sound.”
Modern English
English
susurration
“A soft whispering or rustling sound.”
Explore more surprising origins