Meaning & use
intonation
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable or uncountable
The rise and fall of the voice's pitch while speaking, which can affect meaning or emotion.
Grammar: Can be used with 'a' when referring to a specific pattern, or without an article when talking about the feature in general.
Patterns
- rising intonation
- falling intonation
- the intonation of a sentence
In English, rising intonation at the end of a sentence often indicates a question.
Her intonation suggested she was surprised.
Language learners should practice intonation to sound more natural.
noununcountablemusic
The ability to sing or play notes in tune.
Grammar: Used without an article: good intonation, poor intonation.
Patterns
- good intonation
- poor intonation
- perfect intonation
The violinist's intonation was flawless throughout the performance.
Singers need to work on their intonation to stay in tune with the orchestra.
Word forms
| plural | intonations |
|---|
Common combinations
- rising intonation
- A rising intonation at the end can turn a statement into a question.
- falling intonation
- Falling intonation is typical for statements in English.
- practice intonation
- Learners should practice intonation by listening to native speakers.
- intonation pattern
- Different languages have different intonation patterns.
- good intonation
- The choir director praised the singers for their good intonation.
Synonyms and how they differ
- pitch
- The highness or lowness of a sound; 'intonation' refers to the pattern of pitch changes over a phrase.
- inflection
- A change in pitch or tone; in linguistics, 'intonation' is often used for the overall melody of speech, while 'inflection' can refer to individual changes.
- accent
- The emphasis on a syllable or word; 'intonation' is about the melody of the whole utterance.
Word family
Commonly confused: intonation or intonaco?
intonation vs intonaco
A technical term in fresco painting for a layer of plaster; not related to speech.
Practice
In English, what does a rising intonation at the end of a sentence often indicate?
Choose one answer.
Rising intonation at the end of a sentence typically signals a yes/no question in English. A statement usually has falling intonation.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “intonation”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.