sotto voce
3
9.8
- idiom
- /ˈsɑːtoʊ ˈvoʊtʃeɪ/
- Yes, my readers, it is time to acknowledge him sotto voce.
- said sotto voce
- spoke sotto voce
- mutters sotto voce
Examples
-
I forced myself to focus on their sotto voce dialogue as they conversed in what they deemed utter secrecy.
Fiction book (2002) -
The secret agent spoke sotto voce to avoid being overheard by anyone nearby.
-
"Quite a fashion statement," she said, sotto voce, to Mark.
Fiction book (1999) -
"You think this is some kind of joke?" I said, sotto voce.
Fiction book (1998) -
Two women in their little group were talking sotto voce to each other so as not to disturb the boys.
Fiction book (1990) -
Did people talk sotto voce, behind the hand, when the tainted pair came by?
Fiction book (2001) -
Mudcatt said a few words, sotto voce, to the old man, who gave a meager bow and left the room.
Fiction book (1999) -
"Then he handed back my crumpled complaint form and added, sotto voce, "Besides, courage learns by example."
Fiction book (2000) -
"I've been learning, too," Shadrach admitted sotto voce, a grin shining from his face.
Fiction book (1994) -
"Here's what we've got," Agron told him sotto voce, clicking his mechanical pencil in and out.
Fiction book (1998)
Synonyms
27
4.1
To say something in a very quiet voice so other people cannot hear
5
8.6
In a soft, quiet voice so only a few people hear
1
8.6
In secret and quietly so nobody finds out
1
8.5
Saying words softly to yourself in your mind or under your breath
Antonyms
How Quiet
Surface Forms
Morphology
sotto + voce
The meaning 'in a quiet or undertone voice' is directly inferable from the constituents: Italian sotto ('under' / soft/low) + voce ('voice') yields the compositional idea of an 'under/low voice'. Although it is a loan phrase from Italian, the semantic combination parallels cross‑linguistic patterns (e.g. 'low voice', 'undertone') and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituent words.
Etymology
Sotto voce comes from Italian; sotto means 'under' and voce means 'voice', so it gives the image of a voice kept low, as if under something. That's why it means 'in a quiet voice so as not to be heard'.