intonation

American  

[in-toh-ney-shuhn, -tuh-] / ˌɪn toʊˈneɪ ʃən, -tə- /

noun

1. the pattern or melody of pitch changes in connected speech, especially the pitch pattern of a sentence, which distinguishes kinds of sentences or speakers of different language cultures.

2. the act or manner of intonating.

3. the manner of producing musical tones, specifically the relation in pitch of tones to their key or harmony.

4. something that is intoned or chanted.

5. the opening phrase in a Gregorian chant, usually sung by one or two voices.

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intonation British  

/ ˌɪntəʊˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. the sound pattern of phrases and sentences produced by pitch variation in the voice

2. the act or manner of intoning

3. an intoned, chanted, or monotonous utterance; incantation

4. music the opening of a piece of plainsong, sung by a soloist

5. music

   1. the correct or accurate pitching of intervals

   2. the capacity to play or sing in tune See also just intonation

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Other Word Forms

• intonational adjective

Etymology

Origin of intonation

First recorded in 1610–20, intonation is from the Medieval Latin word intonātiōn- (stem of intonātiō ). See intonate, -ion

Explanation

Even if your friend claims she's not upset by the death of her pet iguana, her intonation may tell a different story. Intonation means the way someone's voice rises and falls as they're speaking. Your emotions, your regional accent, or just the particular way you're used to speaking can all affect the intonation of your voice. There's something musical in the way people speak, and intonation describes that musicality. The word also means "producing musical tones," either with your voice or a musical instrument. Another kind of intonation is chanting, or half-speaking, half-singing your words.

Example Sentences

These differences reflect the influence of indigenous languages - Nigeria has more than 500 languages which shape its cadence and intonation, while Kenya's Bantu, Nilotic and Cushitic mix give rise to its own accents.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

But in the second version, the added focus, through intonation, implies that "toy" contrasts with the previously discussed "blicket."

From Science Daily • Nov. 21, 2024

“Yo soy Emilia Pérez,” she says over and over again, modulating her intonation ever so slightly.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 29, 2024

But Palumbo, one of opera’s most mild-mannered yet most unrelenting perfectionists, was still making sure that the singers’ intonation was flawless, still fine-tuning the placement of the first note in a certain phrase.

From New York Times • May 21, 2024

What’s left after content-filtering is a kind of garble that preserves intonation, pitch, and rhythm but erases content.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell