# Winnie

/ˈwɪni/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/winnie
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

to make a soft, high sound like a horse does when it is happy or excited.

For teachers: to utter a soft, low-pitched neighing sound, typically associated with a horse expressing pleasure or recognition.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The horse whinnied a loud sound." but "The horse whinnied loudly." — Whinny is intransitive; it cannot take the sound itself as a direct object.

## Usage notes

- The verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object; it is an onomatopoeic variant of 'neigh'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.