whinny

American  

[hwin-ee, win-ee] / ˈʰwɪn i, ˈwɪn i /

verb (used without object)

whinnied, whinnying

1. to utter the characteristic cry of a horse; neigh.

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verb (used with object)

whinnied, whinnying

1. to express by whinnying.

noun

plural

whinnies

1. a whinnying sound.

whinny British  

/ ˈwɪnɪ /

verb

1. (of a horse) to neigh softly or gently

2. to make a sound resembling a neigh, such as a laugh

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noun

1. a gentle or low-pitched neigh

Etymology

Origin of whinny

1520–30; imitative; compare earlier whrinny, Latin hinnīre

Explanation

A cow moos, a dog barks, a rooster crows, and a horse whinnies. Whinny is both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it's the sound a horse makes. As a verb, it's the horse making the sound. A familiar word with the same meaning as whinny is neigh. When you visit your cousins on their farm, the rooster wakes you up every morning with his crowing. The cow moos to let you know she’s ready to be milked. The dog’s barking alerts you that the tractor is coming down the drive. And it’s the horse’s whinny that tells you he’s ready to go for a ride. Every time you hear that whinny, you’ve got to saddle up!

Example Sentences

To understand how this happens, researchers examined the physical processes behind the whinny.

From Science Daily • Feb. 25, 2026

Nuckels also produced a radio ad with narrator with a western drawl saying “Dirty Dan” was riding off into the sunset as horses whinny in the background.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 6, 2024

My filly’s whinny, timid trill: I’m sitting by this icy rill, In wintry, frigid wild?

From Washington Post • Nov. 10, 2022

She’s bonded with the horse she’s ridden for nearly two years, saying he’ll whinny every time she walks into the barn.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 3, 2021

But Strawberry, the horse, shook his head, gave a cheerful whinny, and seemed to feel better.

From "The Magician's Nephew" by C. S. Lewis