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vocal tone — the quality, pitch, and manner of a person's voice, which often reveals their emotions, attitude, or intention

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: the quality, pitch, and manner of a person's voice, which often reveals their emotions, attitude, or intention

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈvoʊkəl toʊn/

Example Sentences

  • Even robots are now programmed to adjust their vocal tone to sound friendlier.
  • You could tell she was lying just from her nervous vocal tone.
  • My dad's vocal tone gets scary calm right before he yells at me.

vocal tone

NOUN

[/ˈvoʊkəl toʊn/]

the quality, pitch, and manner of a person's voice, which often reveals their emotions, attitude, or intention

His warm vocal tone made the bedtime story feel magical.
💡 Concept

His warm vocal tone made the bedtime story feel magical.

The baby's soft vocal tone changed as the therapist encouraged him to make different sounds.
🧠 Mnemonic

The baby's soft vocal tone changed as the therapist encouraged him to make different sounds.

She heard a familiar vocal tone, began to recognize the voice, and finally realized who was calling.
🎵 Rhyme

She heard a familiar vocal tone, began to recognize the voice, and finally realized who was calling.

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈvoʊkəl toʊn/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈvəʊkəl təʊn/

🌳Etymology

Rootvoc
Suffix--al

Origin

Vocal derives from Latin vocalis (of the voice), itself from vox (voice). Tone comes from Greek tonos (tension, pitch). Together, vocal tone refers to the pitch, quality, and emotional character conveyed through the human voice.

Breakdown

vocal: voc- (voice) + -al (adjective suffix); tone: from Greek tonos (pitch, tension). The compound expresses how vocal quality and inflection communicate meaning and emotion.

🎵Rhyme

phone
alone
zone

🔗Collocations

calm vocal tone
raise one's vocal tone
vocal tone conveys emotion
monotonous vocal tone
soften one's vocal tone
analyze vocal tone
adjust vocal tone

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“Even robots are now programmed to adjust their vocal tone to sound friendlier.”

“You could tell she was lying just from her nervous vocal tone.”

😄 Fun example

“My dad's vocal tone gets scary calm right before he yells at me.”

“Voice assistants analyze your vocal tone to guess how you're feeling.”

📚Related Words

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