French word

mi-voix

Pronunciation

IPA/mivwa/

Meaning

  • feminine nounhushed voice

Example

Elle chante en mi-voix pour ne pas réveiller le bébé.

She sings in a hushed voice so as not to wake the baby.

Illustration for mi-voix (hushed voice)

More examples

Il a parlé à mi-voix pour ne pas attirer l'attention.

He spoke in a low voice so as not to attract attention.

Core concept

A restrained half-voice that carries little beyond the immediate listener.

Common phrases

  • parler à mi-voix

    speak in a low voice

  • chanter en mi-voix

    sing in a low voice

Similar words

chuchotement: A very quiet whisper made with little more than breath.
voix basse: A low, soft speaking voice or way of speaking.
murmure: A low, continuous, indistinct voice or sound.

Definition in French

Voix basse et contrôlée, utilisée pour parler sans attirer l'attention ou pour préserver l'intimité d'une conversation.

Word origin

French forms mi-voix from mi-, meaning 'half' or 'middle' and related to Latin medius, plus voix, which comes from Latin vox.

Usage tips

  • Mi-voix describes controlled quiet speech or singing, not necessarily a whisper, since a whisper uses little or no vocal-cord vibration.

Opposites

  • voix forteloud voicenoun

Word lists with this word