lilt

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'lilt' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this word to describe a pleasant, musical rise and fall of voice in speech, or a song or tune. Example sentence: He spoke with a lilt in his voice, a subtle but noticeable high and low variation as he went along.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I decided to give a southern hemisphere lilt to the rather staid and traditional dips market in the UK and launched my dips line, which has gone on to win awards and gain a cult following.

The Guardian

Elsewhere the lilt of the accelerated breakbeat, its harsher edges smoothed away, proved attractive to makers of commercials and composers of television-title tunes.

The Economist

The light, infectious lilt of "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough".

The Economist

FROM the Afrikaans accent of the doormen at its smart hotels to the east European lilt of waiters in its restaurants London's workforce is unmistakably global.

The Economist

He replied, in his languid, ever-courteous southern lilt, "The hell you say".

The Economist

Poetry takes on a new lilt, novels explore life in a leisurely, circuitous fashion that owes much to an oral tradition.

The Economist

An abbreviated bootleg copy of his ruling Social Democratic Party's song for Europe appeared on April 30th in Der Spiegel, a German magazine, prompting the party to put out the whole score.The Schröder-SPD version of the Union's future has a familiar Germanic lilt to it.

The Economist

When Ian Botham smashed Jeff Lawson into the stands during the 1981 Ashes series, the commentator, in a languid Aussie lilt so in contrast to the brutality of the stroke, proclaimed: "No point looking for that, let alone chasing it.

The Economist

Yet the Chinese central bank has been remarkably laid-back about the downward lilt in prices.

The Economist

Yet the glut, attributed to the mild winter and an increase in the number of juvenile crabs, is bringing anything but profits for the watermen, some of whom still speak with the Elizabethan lilt of their 17th- and 18th-century British ancestors.

The Economist

With insight from his wife's 2010 memoir, "Must You Go?", Mr Sands gives shape to the lilt of works like "Paris" from 1975: "Afternoon leans, silently./She dances in my life./The white day burns".

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a regional accent, use "lilt" to evoke a sense of its melodic and rhythmic qualities, for example, "the soft Southern lilt".

Common error

Avoid using "lilt" to describe speech that is simply fast or rushed. "Lilt" implies a musical, rhythmic quality, not just speed. Instead, use words like "rapid", "brisk", or "fluent" to describe fast speech.

Linguistic Context

The word "lilt" functions primarily as a noun, denoting a characteristic rising and falling of the voice, especially noticeable in certain accents. It can also function as a verb, meaning to speak or sing with a pleasant rising and falling intonation. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in describing musicality in speech and song.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Encyclopedias

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "lilt" is correctly used to describe a musical, rhythmic quality often associated with speech or song. It functions as both a noun and a verb, conveying a sense of pleasant intonation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and its prevalence in news and media demonstrates its broad applicability. While it can effectively evoke the musicality of an accent, avoid misusing it to describe speech that is merely fast-paced. Instead, consider alternative phrases like "melodic cadence" or "rhythmic flow" for nuance. This analysis provides comprehensive guidance on effectively incorporating "lilt" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lilting quality

Directly describes something as having a lilt, emphasizing its pleasant and rhythmic character.

melodic cadence

Emphasizes the musical and rhythmic flow of speech or music, highlighting its pleasant and harmonious quality.

rhythmic flow

Focuses on the regular and pleasing pattern of movement in speech or music, underlining its balanced and harmonious nature.

pleasant cadence

Highlights the agreeable and measured rhythm of speech or music, underlining its soothing or charming effect.

musicality

Highlights the overall musical quality of speech or a performance, emphasizing its melodic and harmonious aspects.

graceful rhythm

Emphasizes the elegant and harmonious flow of speech or movement, pointing to its refined and polished nature.

intonation pattern

Refers specifically to the rise and fall of the voice, particularly in speech, showcasing its unique vocal characteristics.

vocal inflection

Indicates the changes in pitch and tone in someone's voice, adding emotional color and emphasis to their speech.

rhythmic sway

Suggests a gentle, back-and-forth movement or influence, implying a smooth and harmonious motion.

swinging rhythm

Highlights the rhythmic movement in music, dance, or speech, but focuses in the energetic and lively motion.

FAQs

How can I use "lilt" in a sentence?

You can use "lilt" to describe a musical quality in speech or a song. For example, "She spoke with a gentle Irish lilt" or "The song had a cheerful lilt to it".

What are some synonyms for "lilt"?

Some synonyms for "lilt" include "cadence", "rhythm", "melody", and "intonation", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say someone's voice has a "lilt"?

Yes, it is correct. Saying someone's voice has a "lilt" means their speech has a pleasant, musical quality, often associated with a particular accent or regional dialect.

What's the difference between "lilt" and "drawl"?

"Lilt" refers to the musical or rhythmic quality of speech, while "drawl" refers to speaking slowly and prolonging vowel sounds. A voice can have both a "lilt" and a drawl, but they describe different aspects of speech.