Euphony
noun /ˈjuːf(ə)ni/ — The quality of being beautiful and pleasing to hear.
Definition
The quality of being pleasing to the ear through a combination of agreeable sounds — in music or language; the harmonious quality of words or sounds that flow without friction.
Beyond the definition
Euphony is why certain lines of poetry stop you and demand re-reading aloud. Tennyson understood that language has a sound beyond its meaning. Some names, some phrases, some voices are euphonious simply as vibrations.
Origin & history
From Greek euphonia (sweetness of voice), from eu (well) + phone (voice, sound). The opposite of cacophony — the beautiful voice rather than the bad one.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Tennyson composed for euphony — the sound of his verse was as important as its sense.
The place name had a natural euphony — two syllables that sounded like the place felt.
She chose words for their euphony as much as their precision.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Euphony” when the meaning fits your context: The quality of being pleasing to the ear through a combination of agreeable sounds — in music or language; the harmonious quality of words or sounds that flow without friction.
Synonyms
melodiousness, harmony, mellifluousness, pleasantness
Antonyms
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Euphony" mean?
Euphony is noun meaning: The quality of being beautiful and pleasing to hear.. The quality of being pleasing to the ear through a combination of agreeable sounds — in music or language; the harmonious quality of words or sounds that flow without friction.
Where does the word "Euphony" come from?
From Greek euphonia (sweetness of voice), from eu (well) + phone (voice, sound). The opposite of cacophony — the beautiful voice rather than the bad one.