Sotto Voce
adverb / adjective /ˌsɒt.əʊ ˈvəʊ.tʃi/ — In a quiet voice, as if not to be overheard.
Definition
Performed or uttered in a soft voice, so as not to be overheard. In music, a direction to perform at reduced volume, as if whispering. Sotto voce implies intimacy — or conspiracy.
Beyond the definition
Sotto voce is how people say the true thing. What is said at full volume is the version for the room; what is said sotto voce is for one person, and means more.
Origin & history
Italian: 'sotto' (under) + 'voce' (voice). Literally 'under the voice'. A direction in music and theatre for performers to drop their volume significantly.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She added, sotto voce, the detail she hadn't wanted to say in front of everyone.
The string section played the closing bars sotto voce — barely audible, intimate as a secret.
He narrated his own life sotto voce, never loud enough for anyone to quite catch the whole story.
How to use it
Follow this entry’s examples for grammatical form and sentence placement.
Choose “Sotto Voce” when the meaning fits your context: Performed or uttered in a soft voice, so as not to be overheard. In music, a direction to perform at reduced volume, as if whispering. Sotto voce implies intimacy — or conspiracy.
Synonyms
softly, in a whisper, quietly, under one's breath
Antonyms
fortissimo, aloud, publicly
Related words
Sotto Voce vs whisper
Sotto voce is a specific instruction to speak or sing quietly, often for privacy. A whisper is the physical act of producing sound without vocal cord vibration.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Choosing Silence Over Engagement
An adult sits calmly in a minimalist room, ignoring a ringing phone on the desk.
The intentional stillness and refusal to answer the phone reflects the intimacy and reduced volume of a sotto voce. It captures the power of keeping something private or whispered rather than allowing it to be overheard.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Sotto Voce" mean?
Sotto Voce is adverb / adjective meaning: In a quiet voice, as if not to be overheard.. Performed or uttered in a soft voice, so as not to be overheard. In music, a direction to perform at reduced volume, as if whispering. Sotto voce implies intimacy — or conspiracy.
Where does the word "Sotto Voce" come from?
Italian: 'sotto' (under) + 'voce' (voice). Literally 'under the voice'. A direction in music and theatre for performers to drop their volume significantly.