What does unvoice mean?
Unvoice is a transitive verb meaning to make a sound voiceless, especially by preventing vibration of the vocal folds. In phonetics, it describes a change such as the final /z/ becoming /s/ in certain forms of English. Unvoiced sounds are produced without vocal-fold vibration, whereas voiced sounds are produced with it. The related adjective unvoiced is much more common and is widely used in descriptions such as “an unvoiced consonant” and “an unvoiced stop.” Because the distinction concerns the presence or absence of vocal-fold vibration rather than loudness, unvoice is more precise than simply “make quieter.” It is particularly useful when discussing articulation, phonation and sound patterns accurately, including interactions that occur in connected speech.
verbTo make a sound voiceless, especially by preventing vibration of the vocal folds.
- To make a sound or consonant voiceless by preventing vibration of the vocal folds.
"The phonologist used a rule to unvoice /z/ in the plural form fishes."
"The phonologist used a rule to unvoice /z/ in the plural form fishes."
"Some consonants change as a result of voicing and unvoicing in connected speech."
Unvoicing transforms a voiced /z/ into an unvoiced /s/ without changing the sound's place of articulation.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unvoice come from?
Unvoice was formed in English from the prefix un- and the word voice, initially expressing the idea of removing voice or vocal sound. It later became established as a technical term in phonetics for rendering a sound voiceless. Voice was borrowed through Old French vois from Latin vox, meaning “voice”; Latin derivatives such as vocal and advocate ultimately share the related roots voc- and vocare.
Related word forms
How unvoice is actually used
Chiefly a specialist term in phonetics, linguistics and speech science. It is normally transitive, taking a sound, consonant or utterance as its object.
Easily confused with unvoice
Unvoice is a verb meaning to make a sound voiceless, whereas unvoiced is an adjective describing a sound made without vocal-fold vibration.