noun
intonation
in-tuh-NAY-shun
Intonation (noun) means the rise and fall of the voice in speech, which conveys meaning, mood, or whether a sentence is a statement or a question. Example: “Rising intonation at the end turns the statement into a question.”
noun
1
The rise and fall of the voice in speech, which conveys meaning, mood, or whether a sentence is a statement or a question.
"Rising intonation at the end turns the statement into a question."
"His flat intonation made it hard to tell whether he was joking."
2
music Accuracy of pitch when singing or playing an instrument.
"The violins' intonation drifted sharp in the warm hall."
"Long tones are the fastest way to fix a beginner's intonation."
How to use intonation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe tune your voice makes when you speak.
When to use it
Neutral; a technical term in linguistics, language teaching and music.
Memory tip
Intonation is about melody across a whole phrase. Stress is about which syllable or word is emphasised within it.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
intonation vs accent
intonation vs pronunciation
intonation vs tone
Common pairings
rising intonation
falling intonation
natural intonation
good intonation
intonation pattern
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Fill the gap
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Rising _____ at the end turns the statement into a question.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin intonare, "to sing or chant", built on Latin tonus, "tone".
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for intonation
region
cation
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
See all rhymes for intonation →
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between intonation and pronunciation?
Pronunciation is how you form individual sounds and words. Intonation is the pitch pattern you lay over a whole phrase. You can pronounce every word perfectly and still sound unnatural if your intonation is flat.
What is the difference between intonation and accent?
An accent is the full set of features that marks where a speaker is from, including vowel sounds, consonants and rhythm. Intonation is just the pitch movement, and it is one ingredient of an accent.
Why does rising intonation make a question?
In English, lifting the pitch at the end of an utterance signals that the speaker is seeking a response or leaving something open. It is why "You're coming?" works as a question with no change in word order.
What is the meaning of intonation?
"intonation" (noun) means the rise and fall of the voice in speech, which conveys meaning, mood, or whether a sentence is a statement or a question.
