What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
whistle
Example
He whistled to get his dog's attention. [whistled: verb]
Example
The referee blew his whistle to signal the end of the game. [whistle: noun]
Example
She was whistling a catchy tune as she walked down the street. [whistling: gerund or present participle]
blow
Example
She blew out the candles on her birthday cake. [blew: past tense]
Example
He was blowing up a balloon for the party. [blowing: gerund or present participle]
Example
The musician blew into his saxophone and started playing a beautiful melody. [blew: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Blow is more commonly used than whistle in everyday language. Blow is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while whistle is less common and often associated with specific objects or actions, such as a whistle or a tune.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between whistle and blow?
While whistle is typically associated with a casual and informal tone, blow is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
