bisbisar

A literary, onomatopoeic verb meaning to mutter or murmur something under one's breath, often a prayer, complaint, or secret — bisbisar una oración. Interchangeable with the more common bisbisear; both are more common in narrative writing than in spoken Spanish, where susurrar or musitar are more everyday.

• La anciana bisbisaba una oración frente al altar. — The old woman murmured a prayer in front of the altar.
• Bisbisó algo entre dientes y se marchó. — He muttered something under his breath and left.
• Los niños bisbisaban chismes durante la clase. — The children were whispering gossip during class.

A literary word for muttering, not a common spoken-Spanish choice — susurrar (to whisper) is what most speakers would actually say in conversation.

Often confused with bisbisear.