← Paralanguage, silence, laughter

The hissing call (pssst - Latin America)

"Pssst" for hailing: commonplace in Lima, aggressively out of place in Stockholm.

Category : Paralanguage, silence, laughterSubcategory : interpellation-sonoreConfidence level : 3/5 (documented hypothesis)Identifier : e0220

Meaning

Target direction : A discreet, friendly appeal, especially to young women, to attract attention without raising your voice - very natural in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Interpreted meaning : In Scandinavia and East Asia, the "pssst" chirp is perceived as excessively familiar, even aggressive or sexually suggestive for women. It can also be interpreted as urban harassment.

Geography of misunderstanding

1. The gesture and its expected meaning

A brief hissing sound, often phonetically noted as "pssst", produced by letting air pass between slightly parted lips, sometimes accompanied by a slight click of the tongue. In Latin America (Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru), the Caribbean and Brazil, this sound functions as a discreet, social and friendly call, notably to attract the attention of a woman, waiter or companion without raising one's voice. It's a "low" calling process that doesn't require shouting, and is compatible with respect for a quiet environment (library, queue) or intimate surroundings (proximity of sleeping people).

2. Where things go wrong: the geography of misunderstanding

In Scandinavia (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland), the Netherlands and East Asia (Japan, South Korea, mainland China), the same hiss is perceived as highly problematic. In Scandinavia, it is interpreted as excessively familiar, even aggressive, or with a sexual connotation (a reference to the sexual chat call). For a woman, receiving it is analogous to a harassing whistle in France. In East Asia, hissing is perceived as a disrespectful intrusion into personal space, incompatible with respect for codified social distance.

3. Historical background

Hissing belongs to the "low" or "discreet" vocal repertoires documented in all dense urban cultures. In Latin America, it is part of a tradition of pre-industrial urban calls (merchants, street vendors, dense social signage). In Scandinavia, the norm of silence in public spaces and the value placed on respect for personal distance have created a symmetrical taboo: any non-verbal sound call is seen as a transgression. The contrast became more marked in the 20th century with the globalization of tourism.

4 Famous documented incidents

Incidents are little publicized but commonplace in tourism and immigration chronicles:

• Sweden/Latin American tourist (2000s) : repeated incidents of Scandinavian women complaining of hissing perceived as harassment when visiting Latin America, or conversely, of Latin Americans poorly received in Sweden for using hissing as a discreet call ([SOURCE_À_VÉRIFIER - testimonies blogs d'expatriés]).

5. Practical recommendations

• To do: In Latin America, natural and appreciated. In Nordic contexts, prefer discreet verbal appeal or eye contact.
• Never do: whisper to a woman in Scandinavia and East Asia; it's read as harassment or an aggressive approach.
• Alternatives: gentle vocal appeal ("excuse me"), eye contact, discreet hand-raise.
• Vigilance: the same technique is acceptable in 50% of the world and unacceptable in 50%.

Documented incidents

• — Incident courant rapporté sur forums d'expatriés : touriste chuinte pour appeler une amie en terrasse, les femmes proches le prennent pour du harcèlement sexuel.

Practical recommendations

Neutral alternatives

• Soft voice call "excuse me".
• Eye contact and nod.
• Discreet hand-raise.

Sources