Difference Between Whinging and Whining
- According to Wordnik, whinge means "to complain, especially in an annoying or persistent manner." Merriam-Webster defines whinge as "to complain fretfully." This is to complain in a manner in which one is emotionally strained.
- Whine is defined in Merriam-Webster as "to utter a high-pitched plaintive or distressed cry," or "to complain with or as if with a whine." This means that "whine" can be a distressed cry, or to complain in a distressed manner. For instance, a dog can let out a whine, which lets its owners know that it is in distress.
- According to Merriam-Webster, whinge is a British word. Which means, although it is a proper English word, it is mostly used by British English speakers.
- WordReference.com adds an additional definition of whine that separates it from whinge. It defines whine as "a feeble or petulant complaint." A feeble or petulant complaint is a childish, weak, bad-tempered complaint.