sotto voce

adverb or adjective

sot·​to vo·​ce ˌsä-tō-ˈvō-chē 

1

: under the breath : in an undertone

also : in a private manner

2

: very softly

—used as a direction in music

Did you know?

It’s no secret: sotto voce functions both as an adverb ("she began telling us sotto voce about the upcoming surprise party") and as an adjective ("he read the letter in a sotto voce delivery"). Borrowed into English from the Italian word sottovoce (literally meaning "under the voice"), 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

The f-word is uttered twice, once sotto voce and once quite loudly and clearly. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 13 Dec. 2024

He sotto voce mocked Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of a nation where character trumped skin color. —Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 10 Nov. 2024

What every person is figuring out, sotto voce or at full volume, is how they are meant to carry on without their person. —Marley Marius, Vogue, 3 Aug. 2024

Sometimes the subject is discussed openly, sometimes sotto voce. —Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 27 Nov. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Italian sottovoce, literally, under the voice

First Known Use

1737, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

sotto voce

adverb or adjective

sot·​to vo·​ce ˌsät-ō-ˈvō-chē 

1

: in a whisper

also : in private

2

: very softly

play the last part sotto voce

Etymology

from Italian sottovoce, literally, "under the voice"