mellifluous

[ muh-lif-loo-uhs ]

adjective

1. sweetly or smoothly flowing; sweet-sounding: mellifluous tones.

   a mellifluous voice;

   mellifluous tones.

   Synonyms: harmonious, dulcet, musical, melodious

2. flowing with honey; sweetened with or as if with honey.

mellifluous

/ mɪˈlɪflʊəs /

adjective

1. (of sounds or utterances) smooth or honeyed; sweet

Derived Forms

• melˈlifluousness, noun
• melˈlifluously, adverb

Other Words From

• mel·liflu·ous·ly adverb
• mel·liflu·ous·ness noun
• unmel·liflu·ous adjective
• unmel·liflu·ous·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of mellifluous¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Late Latin mellifluus, equivalent to Latin melli- (stem of mel ) “honey” + -flu(ere) “to flow” + -us adjective suffix ( -ous )

Word History and Origins

Origin of mellifluous¹

C15: from Late Latin mellifluus flowing with honey, from Latin mel honey + fluere to flow

Example Sentences

The chatter mostly unfolds, in mellifluous French, over white tablecloths and stainless steel countertops, with no PowerPoints or government office furniture in sight.

From Los Angeles Times

Neither a fluid singer nor an especially powerful one, he did not have the mellifluous timbre of Crosby or the rakish swing of Sinatra.

From New York Times

“The sound now is really spectacular — in a more mellifluous, mellow, lyrical way.”

From New York Times

Her mellifluous voice soundtracks the show; frankly, "Top Chef" is Padma's stage.

From Salon

I also identified and sketched a heretofore elusive Engelmann oak while listening to the coo-coo-coo of a mourning dove and mellifluous chirping by other more high-pitched birdies.

From Los Angeles Times