Whine and Wine Are Not the Same Word
To whine is to make a long high complaining sound. Its homophone wine comes from an entirely different root.
To whine is to make a long high-pitched complaining sound, or to complain in a feeble way. *Whine* and *wine* are unrelated: whine is imitative, from Old English *hwinan*, to whizz through the air, while wine comes from Latin *vinum*. Speakers who keep the older *wh* pronunciation, common in Scotland and parts of the United States, still distinguish them audibly. That distinction once separated *which* from *witch* and *whether* from *weather* too.
- A high complaining sound. *A dog's whine.*
- To complain feebly. *Stop whining.*
- Wine — the homophone. *A glass of wine.*
- Whinge — the British equivalent. *Whinge.*
- Old English — *hwinan*. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | whine | Whine. |
| Past | whined | Whined. |
| Noun | whine | A whine. |
| British | whinge | Whinge. |
| Homophone | wine | Wine. |
- The dog whined at the door.Sound.
- Stop whining about it.Complaint.
- Some accents still distinguish wh.Pronunciation.
Pairs the wh sound once separated
- Whine / wine
- Which / witch
- Whether / weather
- Whales / Wales
- Most English accents merged the pair centuries ago
Old English *hwinan*, to whizz or whistle through the air, imitative in origin.
Are whine and wine pronounced differently?
In some accents, notably Scottish and parts of American English, the wh is still a distinct sound. Most accents merged them long ago.
What is the difference between whine and whinge?
Little in meaning. Whinge is chiefly British and slightly more disparaging.