soliloquy
suh-LIL-uh-kwee
/səˈlɪl.ə.kwi/
A dramatic speech where a character speaks their innermost thoughts aloud while alone on stage.
Serves as a literary window into a character's mind; no other characters are present or listening.
The story behind the word. Coined in Late Latin as 'soliloquium' by Saint Augustine in 386 AD, combining Latin 'solus' (alone) and 'loqui' (to speak). It literally translates to 'speaking alone to oneself'.
Word relationships
- aside: An aside is a brief remark spoken to the audience while others are present, whereas a soliloquy is a long solo speech.
- monologue: A monologue is heard by other characters; a soliloquy is spoken completely alone.
- dialogue: Dialogue is a shared conversation between two or more characters.
Commonly confused with
- monologue: A soliloquy requires the actor to be alone on stage revealing private thoughts; a monologue can be directed at listeners.
Word family
- soliloquize (verb): To utter a soliloquy or talk to oneself.
- soliloquist (noun): One who delivers a soliloquy.
Collocations
- famous soliloquy
- dramatic soliloquy
- deliver a soliloquy
- opening soliloquy
Idioms & expressions
- private internal dialogue
Example sentences
- "To be, or not to be, that is the question." Shakespearean tragedy
- "The character's tragic conflict is fully revealed during his heartbreaking soliloquy in Act Four." Dramatic analysis
Memory hook
SOLI (solo/alone) + LOQUY (quill/speech) = Solo speech on stage. Speaking your thoughts completely alone.
When not to use
Do not confuse with a monologue addressed to other characters standing on stage.
Fun facts
- Saint Augustine invented the Latin word 'soliloquium' as the title for a book containing inner conversations with his own soul.
Explore more words
introspection, voiceover, introspective, solitude, self-reproach, confide
Also appears in
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