Sotto Voce

C1 16+

Pronunciation: /ˈsɑtoʊ ˈvoʊtʃeɪ/

Definitions of sotto voce

noun Sotto voce is also a noun referring to speaking in a quiet voice or whisper.

Example Sentences

A1 She whispered sotto voce to her friend during the movie.

A2 The teacher spoke sotto voce to the student sitting next to him.

B1 The actor delivered his lines sotto voce to create a sense of intimacy on stage.

B2 The politician was caught on camera speaking sotto voce to his advisor about a controversial issue.

C1 The opera singer's sotto voce performance captivated the audience with its emotional depth.

C2 The director instructed the actors to deliver their lines sotto voce in order to convey a sense of secrecy in the scene.

adverb Sotto voce is an adverb that means in a quiet voice or whisper.

Example Sentences

A1 She spoke sotto voce so as not to wake the sleeping baby.

A2 He whispered sotto voce to his friend during the movie.

B1 The teacher instructed the students to read the passage sotto voce.

B2 The actors delivered their lines sotto voce to create a sense of intimacy on stage.

C1 The politician made a sotto voce comment to the reporter off the record.

C2 The pianist played the delicate piece sotto voce, creating a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere.

Examples of sotto voce in a Sentence

formal She whispered sotto voce to her colleague during the meeting.

informal He muttered sotto voce about the boring presentation.

slang They gossiped sotto voce about the new employee.

figurative The wind whispered sotto voce through the trees.

Grammatical Forms of sotto voce

past tense

whispered

plural

sotto voces

comparative

more sotto voce

superlative

most sotto voce

present tense

whispers sotto voce

future tense

will whisper sotto voce

perfect tense

has whispered sotto voce

continuous tense

is whispering sotto voce

singular

sotto voce

positive degree

sotto voce

infinitive

to sotto voce

gerund

whispering sotto voce

participle

whispered sotto voce

Origin and Evolution of sotto voce

First Known Use: 1601 year
Language of Origin: Italian
Story behind the word: The phrase 'sotto voce' originated in Italian, where 'sotto' means 'under' and 'voce' means 'voice'. It translates to 'under the voice' or 'in a low voice'.
Evolution of the word: Originally used in music to indicate a passage to be played softly, 'sotto voce' later evolved to be used in a broader sense to describe speaking in a hushed or confidential tone.