adjective Uncommon

voiced

voyst

Voiced (adjective) means In phonetics, produced with the vocal cords vibrating, as opposed to a silent or breathy sound. Example: “The letter "z" represents a voiced sound, while "s" is unvoiced.”

adjective

In phonetics, produced with the vocal cords vibrating, as opposed to a silent or breathy sound.

"The letter "z" represents a voiced sound, while "s" is unvoiced."

Having a particular kind of voice, especially in compounds.

"The soft-voiced narrator made the audiobook easy to listen to."

How to use voiced

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMade using vibration of the vocal cords (in linguistics), or described by the kind of voice someone has.

When to use it

The phonetics sense is common in linguistics and language-learning contexts.

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The letter "z" represents a _____ sound, while "s" is unvoiced.

Rhymes for voiced

iced diced sliced spiced priced juiced enticed rejoiced unnoticed practiced overpriced prejudiced

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Frequently asked questions

What does “voiced” mean?

The word “voiced” means in phonetics, produced with the vocal cords vibrating, as opposed to a silent or breathy sound. In plain terms, made using vibration of the vocal cords (in linguistics), or described by the kind of voice someone has.

How do you pronounce “voiced”?

“Voiced” is pronounced voyst (/vɔɪst/ in IPA).

How do you use “voiced” in a sentence?

Here is “voiced” used in a sentence: “The letter "z" represents a voiced sound, while "s" is unvoiced.”

What part of speech is “voiced”?

“Voiced” is an adjective.

Is “voiced” a common word?

“Voiced” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “voiced” have?

“Voiced” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in phonetics, produced with the vocal cords vibrating, as opposed to a silent or breathy sound.

What is the difference between 'voiced' and 'voiceless' sounds in phonetics?

A 'voiced' sound is produced with the vocal cords vibrating, such as the 'b' in 'bat' or the 'z' in 'zoo,' while a 'voiceless' sound is made without that vibration, such as 'p' or 's'. You can often feel the difference by placing a hand on your throat while pronouncing each sound.

How is 'voiced' used in compound words like 'loud-voiced' or 'soft-voiced'?

In compounds, 'voiced' describes having a particular kind of voice, as in 'loud-voiced' meaning having a loud voice or 'soft-voiced' meaning speaking with a gentle voice. This use is separate from the phonetics sense and simply describes vocal quality.

Why does phonetic voicing matter for spelling or grammar, such as plural endings?

Whether a sound is voiced or voiceless affects how certain English endings are pronounced, such as the plural '-s,' which sounds like a 'z' after voiced sounds (as in 'dogs') but like an 's' after voiceless sounds (as in 'cats'). This pattern is a key reason phonetic voicing is taught in English pronunciation.

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