Definition

Describing a sound that is produced without the vocal cords vibrating, or something that is not expressed in words.

Example

The unvoiced consonants in English include sounds like 'p' and 't'.

Conversation

Have you ever noticed how some sounds are completely unvoiced?

Yeah, like when you whisper certain letters, right?

Exactly! It's interesting how those unvoiced sounds still convey meaning.

For sure! It makes communication so diverse.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Unvoiced → It is formed from "un-" (meaning not) and "voiced" (from Latin "vox", meaning voice). The word "unvoiced" means not having a voice or sound, often used in phonetics to describe sounds produced without vocal cord vibration.

Memory Tip

Think of 'not' ('un-') having a 'voice' ('voiced') — that's why unvoiced means lacking sound.

Visually Confused Words