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sifflets
/si.fɛ/
whistles
Les arbitres ont sorti leurs sifflets pour arrêter le match.
The referees blew their whistles to stop the match.
neutral
Small devices used to produce a high-pitched sound by blowing air through them, often used by referees or coaches.
L'arbitre a sorti son sifflet pour signaler une faute.
The referee took out his whistle to signal a foul.
Commonly used in sports, training, or as a signaling tool.
neutral
The act of blowing a whistle or the sound it makes.
On entendait les sifflets des supporters dans le stade.
We could hear the supporters' whistles in the stadium.
neutral
A shrill, high-pitched sound resembling a whistle, often made by birds or wind.
Le vent faisait siffler les branches comme des sifflets.
The wind made the branches whistle like whistles.
Collocations
sifflet d'arbitrereferee's whistlesiffler comme un siffletto whistle loudlysifflet à roulettepea whistle
Pro Tip
Sports Context
In French sports terminology, 'sifflets' is often used to describe referee whistles in football (soccer), rugby, or basketball. Example: 'L'arbitre a sorti son sifflet à la 45ème minute.'
Gold Rule
Plural Form
The plural of 'sifflet' is 'sifflets', pronounced /si.fɛ/. The 't' is silent in both singular and plural forms.
Word Origin
From Old French 'siflet' (12th century), derived from 'siffler' (to whistle), which comes from Latin 'sibilare' (to hiss, whistle). Related to 'sibilant' in English.
Usage Notes
The plural 'sifflets' is commonly used when referring to multiple whistles or sounds. In sports contexts, it often refers to the whistle used by referees to control the game.
Word Breakdown
siff-
whistle sound
root-et
diminutive suffix
suffixDictionnaire Français-Anglais