The word comes from the Old English word hwinsian, meaning “to whine” (the word whine is related). The word whinge can indicate that such complaining is being done in a whiny voice, but more often it simply implies that the complaining is unnecessary or too frequent.

Is whinge a British word?

verb (used without object), whinged, whing·ing. British and Australian Informal. to complain; whine.

What does having a whinge mean?

/wɪndʒ/ us. /wɪndʒ/ the act of complaining, especially about something that does not seem important: We were just having a whinge about our boss - nothing new.