spiritus lenis

[ spir-i-tuhs lee-nis; Latin spee-ri-toos ley-nis ]

noun

1. smooth breathing.

spiritus lenis

noun

1. another term for smooth breathing

Word History and Origins

Origin of spiritus lenis¹

From Late Latin spīritus lēnis

Word History and Origins

Origin of spiritus lenis¹

Latin: gentle breath

Example Sentences

The modern Cubans pronounce it like the English w with the spiritus lenis.

From Project Gutenberg

With a normal attack—the spiritus lenis in contradistinction to the spiritus asper—the glottis is in position for phonation at the moment breath passes through it.

From Project Gutenberg

If the phrase that is to be sung commences with a word beginning with an initial vowel, care must be taken to employ the normal coup de glotte, or spiritus lenis.

From Project Gutenberg

The ‛ is a very distinct sound in Arabic, but is more nearly represented by the spiritus lenis than by any sound that we can produce without much special training.

From Project Gutenberg