sotto voce

[ sot-oh voh-chee; Italian sawt-taw vaw-che ]

adverb

1. in a low, soft voice so as not to be overheard.

sotto voce

/ ˈsɒtəʊ ˈvəʊtʃɪ /

adverb

1. in an undertone

Word History and Origins

Origin of sotto voce¹

First recorded in 1730–40; from Italian adverb sottovoce, “in a low voice,” from sotto “under” + voce “voice” ( voice ( def ) )

Word History and Origins

Origin of sotto voce¹

C18: from Italian: under (one's) voice

Example Sentences

He was a dazzling stylist, but his rapping always had a riveting sense of proximity — a sotto voce intimacy that allowed you to feel the precise distance between his mouth and your ear.

From Washington Post

Pig [growling sotto voce behind his hand, mock-furtive as a Disneyland Foxy Loxy]: Take 35 percent off the top and split!

From The Daily Beast

A local Dad joked sotto voce to his wife “And afterwards there will be a reception who will be in the auditorium!”

From The Daily Beast

One man I met in the city two weeks ago took me aside and told me, sotto voce, that 5,000 people had been killed in Homs alone.

From The Daily Beast

You would notice sotto voce that when ways and means were being discussed, times were always hard.

From Project Gutenberg

They wait patiently until his task is done, all the time purring gently and rhythmically in a sort of sotto voce accompaniment.

From Project Gutenberg

“Not the first time a man has obtained rank through his ‘baggage,’” observed one of the officers, sotto voce.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Cavendish went over to Mr. Balfour, and they held a long conversation, sotto voce.

From Project Gutenberg

"Seven hundred and forty-five pounds, fourteen shillings, and sixpence," said I sotto voce.

From Project Gutenberg