mellifluous
Say it: meh-LIF-loo-us /mɛˈlɪfluəs/ · adjective
What “mellifluous” means
Smooth, sweet and lovely to hear.
More precisely: Sweet, smooth and pleasant to hear.
Example: “The podcast host's mellifluous voice is half the reason I listen.”
When to use it
For a flowing, pleasant voice or melody, especially in appreciative or literary descriptions.
Memory trick
Latin mel means honey and fluere means to flow: imagine a voice flowing like honey.
Similar words
dulcet, honeyed, silky
Where it comes from
Latin mel 'honey' and fluere 'to flow'.
Quick check
A storyteller's smooth, flowing voice makes even a long tale lovely to hear. How does the voice sound?
mellifluous or monotonous?
Show the answer
mellifluous
Learn 5 new words a day in Kinquire. Each with a picture, how to say it, an example and a quick check, then spaced review so you actually keep them. Free to start.
Learn “mellifluous”