vocalize
VOH-kuh-lyze
/ˈvoʊkəlaɪz/
To utter vocal sounds; to express with the voice.
Vocalize is a formal, scientific term for making sounds. It is broader than 'speak' or 'sing' because it includes non-verbal animal sounds like meows, barks, and chirps.
The story behind the word. Vocalize comes from the Latin 'vocalis', meaning 'uttering sound' or 'speaking', which itself comes from 'vox', meaning voice. It entered English in the early 17th century, originally referring to singing and later expanding to describe any production of vocal sound by animals or humans.
Word relationships
- utter: Utter is a general term for making any sound with the mouth, while vocalize specifically emphasizes the use of the vocal cords.
- express: Express means to make thoughts or feelings known, which can be done through writing or gestures, while vocalize requires vocal sound.
- silence: Silence means to prevent from making sound, the direct opposite of vocalizing.
Commonly confused with
- localize: Localize means to restrict to a particular place, while vocalize means to produce vocal sounds.
Word family
- vocalization (noun): The act or sound of producing vocal utterances.
- vocal (adjective): Relating to the human voice or animal sounds.
Collocations
- vocalize feelings
- vocalize sounds
- tendency to vocalize
- vocalize demands
Example sentences
- "Feral cats rarely vocalize to one another, preferring to communicate through scent and body language." An academic study on animal communication.
- "The cat began to vocalize loudly near its food bowl, demanding its morning meal." Describing a pet communicating its desires.
Memory hook
Use your 'vocal' cords to 'vocalize' your thoughts. Vocalize = Voice out.
When not to use
Do not use vocalize in highly casual conversations where simple words like 'say', 'shout', or 'make sounds' are more natural.
Fun facts
- Domestic cats have developed a unique 'meow' vocalization specifically to communicate with humans; they almost never meow at other adult cats.
- Some cats can produce over 100 distinct vocalizations, compared to dogs, which only have about 10.
Related words
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