síp

Síp is a Hungarian noun meaning whistle, a small wind instrument that produces a piercing tone when air is blown through a narrow opening. It can also function as a verb meaning to whistle. The word is common in everyday Hungarian and is used to refer to both signaling devices and, more generally, to wind instruments that emit a clear sound.

In practical use, a síp is a familiar signaling tool in sports, classrooms, and public life. Referees, coaches, and camp leaders may rely on a whistle to start or stop activity, attract attention, or enforce rules. Safety whistles and emergency signaling devices are also described with the term síp. In musical contexts, whistles may be used for simple, portable wind sounds, including those in folk or children’s music.

The pronunciation centers on a long vowel in the second syllable; the word is written with the accented i, síp, to indicate length. This orthography distinguishes síp from other Hungarian words with similar spellings but different vowels.

See also: whistle; whistle (instrument).