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

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."

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 notes

In 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

Can you complete this real example?

Rising _____ at the end turns the statement into a question.

Etymology

From Medieval Latin intonare, "to sing or chant", built on Latin tonus, "tone".

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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inflection cadence pitch pattern tone of voice modulation

Related words

measure transition tone timing accent rhythm metre tempo

Rhymes for intonation

region billion ablation allusion emulsion ideation novation abortion abrasion diffusion elocution extension

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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.

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measure transition tone timing accent rhythm metre tempo