whinge

English

Alternative forms

• winge
• quhynge (Scotland, obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English whinsen, from Old English hwinsian (“to whine”), from Proto-Germanic *hwinisōną (“to whine”), from Proto-Germanic *hwīnaną (“to whizz, rush, swoosh, whine, hiss”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱwey- (“to hiss, whistle, whisper”). Cognate with German winseln (“to whine, whimper”).

Pronunciation

• enPR: wĭnj, IPA: /wɪndʒ/, X-SAMPA: /wIndZ/
• enPR: hwĭnj, IPA: /ʍɪndʒ/, X-SAMPA: /WIndZ/

Noun

whinge (plural whinges)

1. (UK, Australia, New Zealand) A cry.
2. (UK, Australia, New Zealand) A complaint.

Verb

whinge (third-person singular simple present whinges, present participle whinging or whingeing, simple past and past participle whinged)

1. (UK, Australia, New Zealand) To complain, especially in an annoying or persistent manner.
2. (UK, Australia, New Zealand) To whine.
   • 2012, John Lyons, The Australian, 1st Dec issue, Action stations as sea giants stay vigilant on the frontline

     "You know the problem these days with young people? Get them to carry a 500-pound bomb and within 30 seconds they're making noises," he says, imitating a whingeing sound.

Synonyms

• See also Wikisaurus:complain

Translations

to complain or protest

• Dutch: mopperen (nl), zeuren (nl), zagen (nl)
• German: jammern (de), meckern (de), plärren (de)

• Greek: παραπονιέμαι (el) (paraponiémai), παραπονούμαι (el) (paraponoúmai)
• Russian: плакаться (ru) (plákatʼsja) n 
• Swedish: klaga (sv), gnälla (sv)

Anagrams

• hewing