vocalise
C1Formal, Academic, Musical
Definition
Meaning
To give voice to; to express something (a feeling, thought, etc.) in spoken words or song.
In music, to sing using vowel sounds or syllables (like 'ah' or 'la') rather than lyrics, often as an exercise or in certain vocal styles. Also, in linguistics/phonetics, to articulate a sound.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily denotes a deliberate, articulate expression. In music, it's a specific technical term.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: 'vocalise' is standard British English. American English uses 'vocalize'. The musical/technical meaning is dominant in both.
Connotations
Slightly more formal and technical in general use compared to synonyms like 'say' or 'express'. The musical sense is neutral and specific.
Frequency
Relatively low frequency in everyday speech; higher frequency in musical, therapeutic (e.g., speech therapy), and academic contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] vocalises [Object (thought/feeling/sound)][Subject] vocalises [Prepositional Phrase (about/on/against)]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To find one's voice (related concept)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in meetings: 'Staff were encouraged to vocalise their objections to the new policy.'
Academic
Used in psychology/linguistics: 'The study examines how infants vocalise before acquiring language.'
Everyday
Used in personal contexts: 'I find it hard to vocalise my grief.'
Technical
Used in music: 'The soprano will vocalise on an 'ah' for the first eight bars.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The toddler is starting to vocalise her needs more clearly.
- The choir will vocalise as part of their warm-up routine.
American English
- He struggled to vocalize his support for the unpopular decision.
- Jazz singers often vocalize improvised lines.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The baby learned to vocalise different sounds.
- Can you vocalise what is bothering you?
- Patients in therapy learn to vocalise deeply held fears.
- The piece requires the flute to mimic the vocalising soprano.
- The philosopher sought to vocalise the ineffable qualities of human consciousness.
- Her technique involved vocalising complex arpeggios to increase agility.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a VOCAList who must VOCALISE the melody.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS ARE SOUNDS (TO EXPRESS AN IDEA IS TO GIVE IT SOUND/VOICE).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not a direct equivalent of 'вокализировать' in all contexts. Often better translated as 'выражать (словами)' or 'озвучивать' for the general sense, and 'петь вокализ' for the musical sense.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing with 'verbalise' (which is strictly about words, while 'vocalise' can include non-word sounds). Using it as a simple synonym for 'speak' or 'talk' in casual contexts, which sounds unnatural.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'vocalise' used most specifically and correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While it involves producing sound, it emphasises the articulation or expression of something specific (a feeling, musical phrase, phoneme). 'Speak' is more general.
'Verbalise' strictly means to put into words. 'Vocalise' is broader; it means to give voice to, which can include non-word sounds like singing a melody on 'la' or a baby's cooing.
No, 'vocalize' is the standard American English spelling. 'Vocalise' is the standard British English spelling.
Yes, in technical biological or phonetic contexts. Scientists study how whales or birds vocalise. In everyday language, we'd more often say 'make sounds' or 'call'.