Meaning & use
sotto voce
Last updated
Meanings
adverbnot comparableliterary
In a very quiet voice, often so that others will not overhear.
Grammar: Follows the verb or comes at the end: she said sotto voce.
Patterns
- say something sotto voce
- speak sotto voce
He whispered the answer sotto voce to his neighbor.
She commented sotto voce that the speech was too long.
The guests spoke sotto voce during the quiet ceremony.
adjectivebefore a nounliterary
Spoken or said in a very quiet voice, or in an undertone.
Grammar: Often before nouns such as remark or comment: a sotto voce comment.
Patterns
- a sotto voce remark
His sotto voce remark made her smile.
A sotto voce conversation went on at the back of the hall.
adverbnot comparablemusic
In music, played or sung very softly.
Grammar: A direction to performers.
Patterns
- sing sotto voce
The score asks the choir to sing the verse sotto voce.
The violins play the opening sotto voce.
Common combinations
- say sotto voce
- He said sotto voce that he was bored.
- mutter sotto voce
- She muttered sotto voce about the delay.
- sotto voce remark
- A sotto voce remark came from the back row.
- whisper sotto voce
- They whispered sotto voce in the library.
Synonyms and how they differ
- in an undertone
- In an undertone is plain English and has the same meaning, but sotto voce sounds more cultured.
- quietly
- Quietly is general, while sotto voce suggests lowering your voice for privacy.
- under your breath
- Under your breath suggests muttering something half-heard, often a complaint.
- in a whisper
- In a whisper uses breath without voice, whereas sotto voce is a low voice.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: sotto voce or viva voce?
sotto voce vs viva voce
Viva voce means spoken aloud, as in an oral exam, whereas sotto voce means very quietly.
Practice
During the lecture, Ana leaned over and said ___ that the speaker had made a mistake.
Choose one answer.
Sotto voce means in a quiet voice so others will not hear. Viva voce means spoken aloud, and a cappella describes unaccompanied singing.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “sotto voce”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.