01
pfeifen
to whistle
To produce a high, clear sound by forcing air through pursed lips or by using a special instrument (a whistle).
example
Er ging fröhlich pfeifend die Straße entlang.
He walked down the street happily whistling.
pfeifen
to whistle
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Distinguishing meanings
You can recognize the meaning of 'pfeifen' (to whistle) from the context. If the subject is the wind, it is about a sound. In sports, the referee whistles. The preposition 'auf' points to the colloquial meaning 'to ignore' or 'not to care about'.
EXAMPLE
Der Wind pfiff ihm um die Ohren.
The wind whistled around his ears.
Whistling a song
In the meaning 'to produce a sound with the mouth', the verb can stand alone or have an object. A very common and natural combination is 'ein Lied pfeifen' (to whistle a song).
EXAMPLE
Mein Opa pfeift bei der Gartenarbeit immer ein altes Lied.
My grandpa always whistles an old song while gardening.
Typical sports collocations
When a referee whistles, what exactly they whistle is often named. Typical objects are 'ein Foul' (a foul), 'einen Elfmeter' (a penalty), or 'Abseits' (offside).
EXAMPLE
Der Schiedsrichter hat das Spiel pünktlich angepfiffen.
The referee blew the whistle to start the game on time.
Fixed expression with 'auf'
The colloquial expression 'auf etwas pfeifen' means that someone doesn't care about something. It always requires the preposition 'auf' followed by a noun or pronoun in the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Sie pfeift auf die Meinung der anderen und macht ihr eigenes Ding.
She doesn't care about other people's opinions and does her own thing.
Compare with
pfeifen vs singen
to sing
'singen' and 'pfeifen' both have to do with sounds that a person makes with their mouth. The difference lies in the type of sound. With 'singen', you use your voice, often with words or lyrics. With 'pfeifen', you make a high sound with your lips or with a whistle, usually without words. You can sing or whistle a melody, so learners may confuse the words. If words and voice are important, 'singen' fits. If you mean only a clear, high sound, 'pfeifen' is better.
pfeifen
Auf dem Weg zur Arbeit pfeift Max eine fröhliche Melodie.
On the way to work, Max whistles a cheerful melody.
singen
Beim Kochen singt Lena leise ihr Lieblingslied.
While cooking, Lena quietly sings her favorite song.
In real life
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