Word of the day · 28 July 2026
susurrus
/suːˈsʌrəs/
noun
A soft murmuring, whispering or rustling sound.
In a sentence
- A susurrus of leaves filled the courtyard after lunch.
- She heard a susurrus of conversation behind the curtain.
- The silk made a faint susurrus as she crossed the room.
In an image
Origin
From Latin susurrus (whisper, murmur), an imitative word for soft sound.
History
Latin writers used susurrus for whispers and breezes. English poets revived it for atmospheric sound when whisper felt too plain. Nature writing still favors it for grass, pages and distant talk. The doubled s and soft vowels make the word sound like what it names.
Nearby words
whisper · murmur · rustle
The hush of leaves, fabric or low voices in a room.