enunciation

8 synonyms and 2 antonyms for enunciation, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — The way a person pronounces words, especially how clearly and distinctly each sound is formed.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

statement declaration expression

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

pronunciation

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

articulation diction elocution formulation

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

The way a person pronounces words, especially how clearly and distinctly each sound is formed.

“Her enunciation is so crisp you can follow her without subtitles.”

pronunciation articulation diction elocution

Opposites

mumbling slurring

2. noun formal

The act of stating something clearly and formally, as of a principle or policy.

“The speech was a careful enunciation of the party's new position.”

statement declaration expression formulation

How to use enunciation

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

clear enunciation careful enunciation poor enunciation enunciation exercises

Slightly formal; common in teaching, singing, acting and speech therapy.

Etymology

From Latin enuntiare 'to announce, speak out', from e- 'out' and nuntiare 'to report'.

Full origin of enunciation →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between enunciation and pronunciation?

Pronunciation is about which sounds a word is supposed to have — whether you say 'skedule' or 'shedule'. Enunciation is about how clearly you produce those sounds, whatever they are. You can pronounce a word correctly and still enunciate it badly by mumbling it.

How do you improve your enunciation?

Slow down, open your mouth wider than feels natural, and give the final consonant of each word its full value — most unclear speech comes from dropped word endings. Reading aloud and recording yourself makes the problem audible quickly.

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Nearby words

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