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Glite Dictionary
to subvocalize

to subvocalize

1 9.1
Say words quietly in your head while reading
  • verb
  • /sʌbˈvoʊkəˌlaɪz/
  • Specialized
: subvocalizar
  • Perhaps he murmurs along with his composition, subvocalizing the words as they take shape on the page.

Examples

  • "I'm taking the evening off," Kevin subvocalized.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • To his subvocalized OK, Jeeves set out to dig further into the proposed next project.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • "I've got 'em!" he subvocalized.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • The old man couldn't talk anymore, but he retained enough muscular control to subvocalize, and a speech processor took care of the rest.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • "Run a media search on any other system outages," he subvocalized at Jeeves.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Kris was murmuring again, almost subvocalizing the way Grandpop in his extremity had ghosted words into the speaker by his bed.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • As she read the poem, she subvocalized the lines to understand their rhythm better.

  • He often subvocalizes words while studying to help remember them more clearly.

  • While practicing his speech, he subvocalized the key points to reinforce his memory.

How Audible

to shout
690 1.0
to speak
∞ 1.0
to whisper
549 1.0
to mouth
41 8.1
to subvocalize
  • Specialized
1 9.1
to think
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

subvocalize infinitive
subvocalized past
subvocalized past participle
subvocalizing present participle
subvocalizes third person singular

Morphology

subvocalize = vocalize (transparent) = sub + vocal + ize

The meaning is directly predictable from 'sub-' (under/inward/partial) + 'vocalize' (to produce with the voice), giving 'articulate inwardly or quietly'.

Etymology

Subvocalize breaks into sub- meaning 'under' and vocalize meaning 'to use the voice', as in vocal or 'voice'. So to subvocalize is to speak 'under' your breath, saying words quietly in your head or without sound, which is why people often do it when they read silently.