intonation
gb/ɪntənˈeɪʃən/ us/ɪntənˈeɪʃən/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
abstract
1
speech pitch patterns
The way your voice goes up and down when you speak.
Usage pattern:
[someone's] intonation; intonation in [a language]; intonation rises/falls
Common mistake:
Usually uncountable; do not use it to mean volume or pronunciation in general.
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.)
Collocations
rising intonation
|falling intonation
|flat intonation
|natural intonation
|sentence intonation
|intonation pattern
|intonation and stress
|English intonation
|use intonation
|intonation rises
Themes
linguistics
|speech
|communication
|pronunciation
|language_learning
Examples
- Her intonation made the polite words sound sarcastic.
- Listen to the intonation at the end of the question.
- In English classes, students often practise stress, rhythm, and intonation together.
Learner examples
- Your intonation should rise here.
- Try to use natural intonation when you speak.
Noun
technical
C1
property
2
musical pitch accuracy
How correctly a singer or instrument produces musical notes at the right pitch.
Usage pattern:
good/poor intonation; [someone's] intonation; intonation on [an instrument]
Common mistake:
In music, intonation can be good or poor; the noun itself does not mean only singing out of tune.
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.)
Collocations
good intonation
|poor intonation
|accurate intonation
|correct intonation
|vocal intonation
|violin intonation
|guitar intonation
|check the intonation
|adjust the intonation
|intonation problems
Themes
music
|performance
|singing
|instruments
Examples
- The choir's intonation improved after they tuned to the piano.
- Bad intonation on a violin can make even a simple melody sound wrong.
- He adjusted the guitar's intonation so chords stayed in tune up the neck.
Learner examples
- The singer has very good intonation.
- The violin's intonation is a little off.
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.
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.
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.
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.