hoarsen: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal/Literary
Quick answer
What does “hoarsen” mean?
to make or become hoarse (rough-sounding, harsh voice).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to make or become hoarse (rough-sounding, harsh voice).
To cause a voice, sound, or the vocal apparatus to lose its clear, smooth quality, becoming rough or strained; can also metaphorically describe a sound becoming rougher in general.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both BrE and AmE recognise the word, but it is rare in both. It is more likely to be encountered in literary or descriptive medical contexts than in everyday speech.
Connotations
Formal, descriptive, possibly slightly archaic. Can have a negative connotation (loss of voice quality).
Frequency
Extremely low frequency. 'Become/get hoarse' or 'make hoarse' are vastly more common.
Grammar
How to Use “hoarsen” in a Sentence
[Subject] hoarsened [Object] (transitive)[Subject] hoarsened (intransitive)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hoarsen” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The cold night air hoarsened his cry.
- After hours of lecturing, the professor's voice began to hoarsen.
American English
- Shouting at the rally hoarsened her voice for days.
- The virus hoarsened his usually clear baritone.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Rare; may appear in medical literature on laryngology or phonetics.
Everyday
Extremely rare; 'get/lose my voice' or 'go hoarse' are standard.
Technical
Possible in clinical descriptions of vocal pathologies.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hoarsen”
- Using 'hoarsen' in everyday conversation sounds unnatural.
- Confusing 'hoarsen' (verb) with 'hoarse' (adjective). Incorrect: *'I am hoarsening.' Correct: 'My voice is hoarsening' or 'I am getting hoarse.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is very rare. Native speakers overwhelmingly prefer phrases like 'get hoarse', 'go hoarse', or 'lose one's voice'.
Yes, though it's rare in both forms. Intransitive: 'His voice hoarsened.' Transitive: 'The smoke hoarsened her voice.'
'Hoarsen' is specific to sound, especially the human voice, making it rough. 'Coarsen' is broader, referring to making something rough in texture (like skin) or vulgar in manners.
No. For language learners, it is much more important to recognize it passively. For active use, learn the standard phrases 'get/go/lose one's voice' or 'become hoarse'.
to make or become hoarse (rough-sounding, harsh voice).
Hoarsen is usually formal/literary in register.
Hoarsen: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɔːs(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɔːrs(ə)n/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To talk oneself hoarse (more common than 'hoarsen')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: HOARSE + N = HOARSEN, meaning 'to make HOARSE'.
Conceptual Metaphor
VOICE QUALITY IS TEXTURE (becoming rough).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'hoarsen' correctly?