guttural: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal / Technical / Literary
Quick answer
What does “guttural” mean?
Relating to or produced in the throat.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Relating to or produced in the throat.
(Of a speech sound) produced in the throat or back of the mouth, like 'k' or 'g'. Also describes a low, harsh, throaty sound or voice.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal difference in primary meaning or usage. Both varieties use it predominantly in formal/technical contexts.
Connotations
Carries a slightly archaic or descriptive, almost poetic connotation in literary contexts. In technical use (phonetics, music), it is neutral.
Frequency
Low-frequency in both dialects; slightly more common in British literary description.
Grammar
How to Use “guttural” in a Sentence
adjective + noun (guttural sound)verb + adjective (sound guttural)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “guttural” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He tried to speak, but could only guttural a few indistinct syllables.
American English
- The engine gutturaled and died.
adverb
British English
- He laughed gutturally.
American English
- The word was pronounced gutturally, emphasising the 'r'.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Almost never used.
Academic
Used in phonetics, linguistics, musicology, and literary analysis.
Everyday
Rare; might be used descriptively for a voice or animal sound.
Technical
Standard term in phonetics for sounds articulated with the back of the tongue against the velum or uvula (e.g., [x], [ɣ]).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “guttural”
- Misspelling as 'gutteral'.
- Using it to mean simply 'loud' or 'angry' rather than specifically throat-produced and harsh.
- Overusing in non-technical writing where simpler words (hoarse, deep) suffice.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not inherently, but it often carries negative connotations (harsh, unpleasant) in descriptive use. In technical phonetics, it is neutral.
Yes, informally and often pejoratively, to describe a language perceived as having many throaty sounds (e.g., Arabic, German). This usage is considered stereotypical and imprecise by linguists.
'Hoarse' specifically means rough and harsh due to illness or strain. 'Guttural' describes the place of articulation (throat) and the resulting sound quality, which can be healthy and intentional.
Yes, the noun is also 'guttural', referring to a guttural speech sound (e.g., 'The phoneme /x/ is a guttural').
Relating to or produced in the throat.
Guttural is usually formal / technical / literary in register.
Guttural: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡʌtərəl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡʌtərəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'GUTTerRAL' - a sound that rumbles from your GUT and THROAT.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE THROAT IS A CAVE (producing dark, echoing sounds); COMMUNICATION IS A PHYSICAL FORCE (harsh sounds are physically abrasive).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'guttural' used neutrally and technically?