sotto voce

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian sotto voce (literally “under [the] voice”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌsɒtəʊ ˈvəʊtʃeɪ/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌsɑtoʊ ˈvoʊtʃi/

Adjective

sotto voce (not comparable)

1. (of speech, of a voice, etc) In soft tones; quiet.
   • 1913, w:D. H. Lawrence, chapter 5, in Sons and Lovers:

     Then a man called for her, and began to make coarse jokes. But Mr. Pappleworth nodded his head in the direction of the boy, and the talk went on sotto voce.

   • 1985, Gary Russell, Divided Loyalties, page 38:

     ‘Hello?’ she shouted, but still her voice came out barely louder than a sotto voce whisper.

2. (music) Soft (can be used of instruments other than the voice, such as pianos)

Adverb

sotto voce (not comparable)

1. (of speech, of a voice, etc) Speaking quietly.

   Emily Brontë, "Jane Eyre", 1847: "I am not your dear; I cannot lie down. Send me to school soon, Mrs. Reed, for I hate to live here."
   "I will indeed send her to school soon," murmured Mrs. Reed sotto voce; and gathering up her work, she abruptly quitted the apartment.

2. (music) Sung or played softly (can be used of instruments other than the voice, such as pianos)

Noun

sotto voce (plural sotto voci)

1. (music) A direction in a score that a passage in a piece should be played softly, or sung in a low voice, when applied to vocal music.

Adverb

sotto voce

1. Alternative form of sottovoce