- British, Australian, and New Zealand informal verb and noun referring to complaining or whining persistently, often about minor things, in an annoying or childish way.
Explanation
Origin
- From Old English 'hwinsian' (to whine or neigh like a horse).
- Related to whine, but often implies more persistent, self-pitying, and irritating complaining than simple whining.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Moan (UK/Aus)
- Bitch (Vulgar, used as verb: complaining negativity)
- Gripe
- Sounding off (Complaining loudly)
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- Bitching and moaning
- Stop your fucking whinging/bitching.
Milder/More Formal:
- Complaining persistently.
- Expressing dissatisfaction.
- Voicing grievances.
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal. Common in UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland.
- Used to express annoyance at someone's complaining. Inherently critical.
- Avoid in formal settings. Accusing someone of whinging is dismissive of their concerns, even if they are complaining excessively.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- North Americans might confuse it with whine but should be aware whinge often carries a stronger sense of persistent, annoying, self-pitying complaint.
- It's always negative/critical when applied to someone else.
Examples
- (Verb) Stop whinging about the rain and just bring an umbrella!
- (Verb) He's always whinging that he has too much work.
- (Noun) I've had enough of her constant whinging.
- (Noun) Let's have a quick whinge about the boss, then get back to work. (Can sometimes be used slightly self-awarely for cathartic complaining)
Dialogue
Child: But Mummmy, I don't want vegetables! They're yucky! I want ice cream! It's not fair!
Mum: Oh, stop whinging, Liam! Eat your carrots, they're good for you. No ice cream until you finish your dinner.
Child: (Starts crying louder) But I don't like them!
Mum: That's enough whinging!
Social Media Examples
- UK Tweet: Okay, time for my daily whinge about the terrible British weather. Why is it raining AGAIN in June? ☔ #BritishProblems #Whinge
- Aus Forum Post: Is it just me, or does anyone else get tired of colleagues constantly whinging about small stuff? #Workplace #Annoying
- Facebook comment (UK): Stop whinging about the election results and do something positive instead!
Response Patterns
- To someone whinging: Telling them to stop (Oh, stop whinging!), ignoring them, expressing annoyance (Do you ever stop whinging?), trying to solve the perceived problem (Well, what are you going to do about it?).
- To someone accusing you of whinging: Denial (I'm not whinging, I'm just stating facts!), defensiveness, stopping the complaint.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- After being told to stop whinging: The person might stop, become defensive, or continue complaining more quietly or to someone else.
- After accusing someone of whinging: Ignoring them, changing the subject, walking away if annoyed.
Conversation Starter
- No. It describes a type of complaining or is used to tell someone to stop.
Intonation
- When used to describe someone else, often spoken with annoyance or exasperation. Emphasis on WHINGE. Stop WHINGING.
- Can sound dismissive of the complaint.
Generation Differences
- Used across generations in relevant regions. Often used by parents towards children.
Regional Variations
- Core slang in UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand.
- Less common in North America, where whine or complain are standard. Americans might recognise whinge from media but don't typically use it.