siffler

\si.fle\

/\si.fle\/ verb

The verdict

“siffler” is a moderately-common French word, ranked #21,167 in French word frequency and used as a verb.

#21,167
frequency rank, French
7
letters
9
tracked misspellings
6
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Émettre un son aigu, soit avec les lèvres, soit en soufflant dans un sifflet, dans une clef forée, etc.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

siffler vs simuler
71% similar
siffler vs sifflet
86% similar
siffler vs souffler
75% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for siffler
PropertyValue
Headwordsiffler
LanguageFrench
Part of speechVerb
IPA\si.fle\
Letters7
Frequency rank#21,167
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs6
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “siffler” sits in French frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). siffler lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The French entry for siffler is 7 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as \si.fle\. Corpus data places it at rank #21,167 in overall French word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 13 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for siffler, with forms such as "isffler", "sfifler", and "siffelr". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 6 confusable-pair relationships, "simuler", "sifflet", "souffler", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Wiktionary doesn't record an etymology for this headword, so its spelling pattern is best understood through pronunciation rather than a traceable origin. The correct French form is siffler, spelled S-I-F-F-L-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    Émettre un son aigu, soit avec les lèvres, soit en soufflant dans un sifflet, dans une clef forée, etc.
  2. 2
    Chanter, en parlant de certains oiseaux.
  3. 3
    Produire le son aigu que font entendre les serpents quand ils sont en colère.
  4. 4
    Produire le son aigu que font entendre quelques animaux, comme les cygnes, les oies, etc., quand ils sont en colère.
  5. 5
    Crier, en parlant de la marmotte.
  6. 6
    Émettre un son aigu, en parlant du vent, d’une flèche, d’une balle de fusil, etc.
  7. 7
    Faire entendre un sifflement en respirant.
  8. 8
    Exécuter un air en sifflant.
  9. 9
    Appeler en sifflant.
  10. 10
    Avertir par un coup de sifflet.
  11. 11
    Accueillir avec des sifflements, à coups de sifflet, pour marquer sa désapprobation.
  12. 12
    Désapprouver, accueillir avec dérision, avec mépris.
  13. 13
    Boire d’un trait.

Synonyms

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: isffler,sfifler,siffelr,sifflerr,siffller,sifflre,sifler,siflfer,ssiffler

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of siffler - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

isffler2sfifler2siffelr2sifflerr1siffller1sifflre2sifler1siflfer2
Edit distance from "siffler"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 French corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "siffler"?
"siffler" is spelled S-I-F-F-L-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is \si.fle\.
What does "siffler" mean?
As a verb, "siffler" means: Émettre un son aigu, soit avec les lèvres, soit en soufflant dans un sifflet, dans une clef forée, etc.
What words are commonly confused with "siffler"?
"siffler" is commonly confused with "simuler", "sifflet", "souffler". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "siffler"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "siffler" is \si.fle\. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "siffler" come from?
"siffler" is a French word. PlainSpell covers definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “siffler”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct French spelling is S-I-F-F-L-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as \si.fle\ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “simuler” - see the side-by-side comparison. siffler vs simuler
  • Browse more French words and confusable pairs in the same reference. French words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list