intonation
gb/ɪntənˈeɪʃən/ us/ɪntənˈeɪʃən/
B2
English
hanglejtés, intonáció
NOUN
B2
1
hanglejtés
B2
intonáció
C1
Usage pattern:
[someone's] intonation; intonation in [a language]; intonation rises/falls
Her intonation made the polite words sound sarcastic.
A hanglejtése miatt az udvarias szavak szarkasztikusnak hatottak.
Listen to the intonation at the end of the question.
Figyeld meg a kérdés végi hanglejtést.
In English classes, students often practise stress, rhythm, and intonation together.
Learner examples
Your intonation should rise here.
Itt emelkednie kell a hanglejtésednek.
Try to use natural intonation when you speak.
Próbálj természetes hanglejtést használni, amikor beszélsz.
Common mistake:
Usually uncountable; do not use it to mean volume or pronunciation in general.
Meaning
speech pitch patterns
Collocations
rising intonation
|falling intonation
|flat intonation
|natural intonation
|sentence intonation
|intonation pattern
|intonation and stress
|English intonation
|use intonation
|intonation rises
Synonyms
inflection (Often refers to a particular rise or fall in the voice rather than the whole pattern.)
|
tone (Broader; can include attitude, emotion, and voice quality as well as pitch.)
|
pitch (More basic; refers to how high or low the voice sounds.)
Antonyms
monotone (Speech with little or no variation in pitch.)
Themes
linguistics
|speech
|communication
|pronunciation
|language_learning
Definition
The way your voice goes up and down when you speak.
The pattern of rises and falls in the pitch of the voice when speaking, which helps express meaning, emphasis, or attitude.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
2
intonáció
C1
Usage pattern:
good/poor intonation; [someone's] intonation; intonation on [an instrument]
The choir's intonation improved after they tuned to the piano.
A kórus intonációja javult, miután a zongorához hangoltak.
Bad intonation on a violin can make even a simple melody sound wrong.
A hegedűn a rossz intonáció miatt még egy egyszerű dallam is hamisan szólhat.
He adjusted the guitar's intonation so chords stayed in tune up the neck.
Learner examples
The singer has very good intonation.
Az énekesnek nagyon jó az intonációja.
The violin's intonation is a little off.
A hegedű intonációja egy kicsit pontatlan.
Common mistake:
In music, intonation can be good or poor; the noun itself does not mean only singing out of tune.
Meaning
musical pitch accuracy
Collocations
good intonation
|poor intonation
|accurate intonation
|correct intonation
|vocal intonation
|violin intonation
|guitar intonation
|check the intonation
|adjust the intonation
|intonation problems
Synonyms
pitch accuracy (Clearer and more explicit, especially for singing or playing.)
|
tuning (Often refers to adjusting an instrument rather than a performer's pitch.)
Antonyms
pitch inaccuracy (Lack of correct pitch when playing or singing.)
Themes
music
|performance
|singing
|instruments
Definition
How correctly a singer or instrument produces musical notes at the right pitch.
Accuracy of pitch when singing or playing a musical instrument, or the tuning of an instrument so notes sound at the correct pitch.
Grammar
Dictionary form
intonation
IPA
GB/ɪntənˈeɪʃən/
US/ɪntənˈeɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
in - ton - a - tion (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (a)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: intonation
- Plural: intonation, intonations
Expressions
falling intonation
1/fˈɔlɪŋ ɪntənˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
voice pitch falling
When your voice goes down as you speak, especially at the end.
Examples
- Statements such as “I'm ready” usually have falling intonation.
- Falling intonation can make an answer sound certain or complete.
- When giving the command, she used firm falling intonation.
Learner examples
- Use falling intonation for a normal statement.
flat intonation
1/flˈæt ɪntənˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
little pitch variation
Speaking with a voice that does not go up or down much.
Examples
- The actor delivered the line with flat intonation, so the joke did not work.
- If you use flat intonation throughout a presentation, listeners may lose interest.
- The robot voice had flat intonation and sounded unnatural.
Learner examples
- Flat intonation can sound boring.
question intonation
1/kwˈɛst͡ʃən ɪntənˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
intonation signaling questions
The voice pattern that makes something sound like a question.
Examples
- His question intonation made the statement sound like a request for confirmation.
- Practise the question intonation in “Are you coming?”
- She used question intonation on the final word to show she wanted a response.
Learner examples
- Use question intonation when you ask, “Really?”
rising intonation
1/ɹˈaɪzɪŋ ɪntənˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
voice pitch rising
When your voice goes up as you speak, especially at the end.
Examples
- In many English yes-or-no questions, speakers use rising intonation at the end.
- She repeated his name with rising intonation, as if she was not sure she had heard it correctly.
- Use rising intonation here if you want to sound more encouraging.
Learner examples
- Your voice goes up with rising intonation.