whisperers

Whisperers is a term used in English to describe individuals who claim a heightened sensitivity to subtle cues, whispers, or unspoken signals. The term is applied in several domains, including animal training, popular culture, and spiritual or paranormal contexts. Because it is informal, its meaning varies with context and speaker.

In animal training and behavior, the phrase is most commonly linked to dog whisperers and horse whisperers—practitioners who emphasize calm, non-coercive interactions, careful observation of body language, and positive reinforcement. The approach is popular in media and celebrity circles. Scientific evaluation notes that outcomes depend on trainer experience, animal temperament, and the specifics of training; the label “whisperer” is sometimes criticized as marketing rather than a defined credential.

In popular culture, The Whisperers denotes a faction in The Walking Dead franchise. This group conceals their identities by wearing the faces of walkers and maintains a secretive, hushed communication style. Their depiction explores themes of fear, conformity, and survival under harsh conditions, and the term has entered broader usage to refer to secretive or soft-spoken groups in fiction.

Some uses extend to spiritual, paranormal, or psychical domains, where individuals may be described as whisperers who claim to hear or relay whispers from spirits, guiding others. These claims are generally unverified and discussed within specific belief systems.

See also: dog whisperer; horse whisperer; whisper (sound); The Whisperers (Walking Dead).