soliloquy
Say it: suh-LIL-uh-kwee /səˈlɪləkwi/ · noun
What “soliloquy” means
A character alone on stage speaking their thoughts aloud.
More precisely: A speech in which a character speaks their thoughts aloud, alone on stage.
When to use it
When discussing a play's speech that lets the audience hear a lone character's private thoughts and feelings.
Memory trick
Latin solus means alone and loqui means speak: speaking alone.
Similar words
monologue, speech, aside
Where it comes from
Late Latin soliloquium, from solus 'alone' and loqui 'to speak'.
Quick check
Alone on stage, a queen speaks aloud about whether she should forgive her brother. What is this speech?
a soliloquy or a dialogue?
Show the answer
a soliloquy
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