Definition of SOTTO VOCE

Did You Know?

It’s no secret: in our first example sentence, sotto voce functions as an adverb, modifying the verb tell. But sotto voce, which was borrowed into English from the Italian word sottovoce (literally meaning "under the voice"), can also serve as an adjective. That’s the role it plays in our second example sentence. The adverb sense first appeared in English in the 18th century and soon afterward found use in musical directions calling for whispered vocals. The adjective sense came about in the early 19th century.

Examples of sotto voce in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Openly cooperating with Israel without resolving the future of Jerusalem and its Islamic holy sites surely would provoke opposition from religious Saudis, though only sotto voce given the crown prince’s severe repression of domestic opponents. — Karen Elliott House, WSJ, "Will Netanyahu Go to Riyadh?," 6 Jan. 2019 When Londoners look to up their complexion game, one name is traded back and forth, sotto voce: Teresa Tarmey, the facialist behind the lit-from-within glows of Kate Moss, Sienna Miller, Naomie Harris, and a gaggle of It Brits too numerous to name. — Zoe Ruffner, Vogue, "London’s Favorite Celebrity Facialist Opens a New Skin-Care Studio in Tribeca," 24 Aug. 2018 Who among us hasn’t fallen asleep to Jim Nantz’s soothing sotto voce during Masters weekend? — Jason Gay, WSJ, "Will You Pay to Watch Tiger and Phil?," 23 Aug. 2018 But this will also be a contrast in demeanors: Halep’s loud grunts and emotional expressiveness with Stephens’s sotto voce on-court zenitude. — Christopher Clarey, New York Times, "Can Simona Halep Finally Make Her Major Breakthrough?," 7 June 2018 The reason for McCarthy’s withdrawal remains the source of much sotto voce speculation. — Philip Elliott, Time, "Republicans Brace for a Brutal House Leadership Race," 1 June 2018 When asking you to put your phone away, the gentleman should have gone sotto voce. — Amy Dickinson, chicagotribune.com, "Family wedding could revive feuds," 5 May 2018 When asking you to put your phone away, the gentleman should have gone sotto voce. — Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, "Family wedding could revive family feud," 5 May 2018 That's not to denigrate Auerbach, whose almost sotto voce delivery gives the songs their own meaning. — Chuck Yarborough, cleveland.com, "Chuck Auerbach follows in the footsteps of his Black Keys son with Beachland gig (concert review)," 4 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sotto voce.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.