What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
whinny
Example
The horse whinnied happily when it saw its owner approaching. [whinnied: past tense]
Example
I heard a whinny coming from the stable and knew that the horses were awake. [whinny: noun]
neigh
Example
The horse neighed loudly when it saw the snake on the path. [neighed: past tense]
Example
I could hear the neigh of the horses in the distance as we approached the farm. [neigh: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Neigh is more commonly used than whinny in everyday language. Neigh is a versatile word that can be used in various contexts, while whinny is less common and is mostly used to describe a horse's happy or excited sounds.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between whinny and neigh?
Both whinny and neigh are informal words that are not typically used in formal writing or speech.
