Intonation Meaning in English
word
ˌɪntəˈneɪʃən
in-tuh-NAY-shun
ˌɪntənˈeɪʃən
in-tuh-NAY-shun
Definition
The rise and fall of the voice when speaking, which can show emotion or change the meaning of a sentence.
Usage & Nuances
'Intonation' is uncountable. Key for asking questions, showing surprise, or stating facts; pay attention to 'rising intonation' (often questions) and 'falling intonation' (usually statements). Mistakes can lead to misunderstanding or sounding unnatural.
Spanish: entonaciónPortuguese (BR): entonaçãoPortuguese (PT): entonaçãoChinese (Simplified): 语调Chinese (Traditional): 語調Hindi: स्वरArabic: نبرة الصوتBengali: স্বরোচার - স্বরক্ষেপণRussian: интонацияJapanese: イントネーションVietnamese: ngữ điệuKorean: 억양Turkish: entonasyonUrdu: آہنگIndonesian: intonasi
Example Sentences
He practiced his intonation to sound more natural.
basic
Different languages use different intonation patterns.
basic
Her friendly intonation made everyone feel welcome.
natural
Pay attention to your intonation if you want to sound confident.
natural
"Are you coming?" sounds like a question because of the rising intonation.
natural
English questions often have rising intonation at the end.
basic