sotto voce
Spoken very quietly
Sotto voce describes speech delivered in a lowered voice, meant to be heard only by those nearby—or not heard at all by others present.
From Italian meaning "under the voice," it suggests discretion or confidentiality: She leaned over and said sotto voce, "I think he's lying".
In music, it directs performers to sing or play in a subdued, soft tone.
Soft, indistinct continuous sound
- undertoneSubdued background quality
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- hushedReduced to silence
- breathyHaving audible exhalation
low · faint · muffled · inaudible · muttering · soft-spoken · quiet · barely audible
Brief theatrical digression
- privateRestricted to certain parties
- secretiveInclined to conceal
- conspiratorialSuggesting secret plotting
- between usShared in confidence
off-the-record · discreet · confidential · hush-hush · in confidence · privileged · intimate · trusted
Reduced in intensity
- mutedMade quieter or softer
- understatedDeliberately minimized in expression
- measuredCarefully considered, unhurried
- temperedStrengthened through heat treatment
toned-down · soft-pedaled · gentle · reserved · controlled · low-key · subtle · delicate
Secretive and sly
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
- stealthySecretly cautious in movement
- underhandDeceptive and secret
cloak-and-dagger · sneaky · veiled · hidden · incognito · sub rosa · on the sly · undetected
Brief theatrical digression
- stage whisperLoud whisper for spectators
- soliloquyDramatic speech to oneself
- fourth wallInvisible stage-audience barrier
- monologueUninterrupted solo address
murmur
Soft, indistinct continuous sound
breathy · low · faint · muffled · inaudible · muttering · soft-spoken · quiet · barely audible · pianissimo
aside
Brief theatrical digression
- privateRestricted to certain parties
- secretiveInclined to conceal
- conspiratorialSuggesting secret plotting
between us · off-the-record · discreet · confidential · hush-hush · in confidence · privileged · intimate · trusted · ear-to-ear
subdued
Reduced in intensity
- mutedMade quieter or softer
- understatedDeliberately minimized in expression
- measuredCarefully considered, unhurried
tempered · toned-down · soft-pedaled · gentle · reserved · controlled · low-key · subtle · delicate · tactful
furtive
Secretive and sly
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
- stealthySecretly cautious in movement
underhand · cloak-and-dagger · sneaky · veiled · hidden · incognito · sub rosa · on the sly · undetected
aside
Brief theatrical digression
- stage whisperLoud whisper for spectators
- soliloquyDramatic speech to oneself
- fourth wallInvisible stage-audience barrier
- borrowed wordschic, naive, passe, avant-garde, faux
- silencequiet, silent, mute, hush, stillness
- soft soundswhisper, murmur, hum, rustle, sigh
- vocalizationsspeak, speaking, talking, whisper, shout
- whisperswhisper, whispering, hushed tone, soft voice, low voice
- hush commandsshh, shhh, ssh, hush up, be silent
sotto voceloudly
With great volume
fortissimo · booming · bellowing · roaring · stentorian
sotto vocepublicly
In open view
openly · on the record · out in the open · broadcasting · announcing