Translating the Air: Silbo Gomero

Welcome to “Traduciendo el aire”, a final-year project from the University of Alcalá (UAH) dedicated to exploring and sharing the world of Gomero whistling. Step into this unique intangible heritage, learn about its history and cultural significance. We’re delighted that you’re here to discover this amazing form of communication.

Unveiling Intangible Heritage

This website is the result of an in-depth study of the Gomero whistle language, ranging from the origins of human language to the distinctive features of whistled languages. The main aim is to provide a clear and accessible overview for everyone, highlighting the cultural richness of the Canary Islands, particularly the island of La Gomera.

Photograph courtesy of the Tourism Board of the Cabildo of La Gomera.

A journey through language

Explore the different sections of our website, each designed to guide you through the key concepts that contextualise and explain the phenomenon of Silbo Gomero, from its fundamentals to its most specific manifestations.

Human language

Discover the fundamentals of how we communicate and what makes a language human. An essential foundation for understanding the whistle language.

Whistled languages

Read about the existence of other forms of whistled communication around the world, a surprising phenomenon.

Silbo gomero

Gain an in-depth understanding of the whistled language of La Gomera: its history, structure and current status as cultural heritage.

Resources and gallery

Explore a collection of videos, photos and links to deepen your knowledge of Silbo Gomero and its context.

Photograph courtesy of the Tourism Board of the Cabildo of La Gomera and the Asociación Cultural Silbo Gomero.

About the project and its creator

This entire project was born out of a deep fascination with Gomero Whistling and a desire to contribute to its dissemination and understanding. This website forms part of my Final Year Project and aims to present the importance of this linguistic gem of the Canary Islands in an educational and engaging way.