subvocal

S1U1B3V4O1C3A1L1

adjective

Of or pertaining words or statements formed in thought and expressed inwardly but not, or not yet, uttered aloud.

OriginEnglish vocal ← Middle English vocal ← Latin vōcālis →
Scrabble 15
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Meanings

adjectivesubvocal (not comparable)
  1. not comparableOf or pertaining words or statements formed in thought and expressed inwardly but not, or not yet, uttered aloud.
  2. datednot comparablehuman sciencesOf or pertaining to imperfectly articulated speech that is inaudible or barely audible; subtonic.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*upó
  2. Proto-Italic*supo
  3. Latinsub
  4. Latinsub-
  5. Englishsub-
  6. Proto-Indo-European*wekʷ-
  7. Proto-Indo-European*wṓkʷs
  8. Proto-Italic*wōks
  9. Latinvōx
  10. Proto-Indo-European*h₂el-
  11. Proto-Indo-European*h₂élisder.?
  12. Latinvōcālis
  13. Middle Englishvocal
  14. Englishvocal
  15. Englishsubvocal

From sub- + vocal.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with subvocal

vocalfocalsoclejokulautofocalbivocalbocalnonvocalpolyvocalsemivocal
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

subvocal. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subvocal

MLA

“subvocal.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subvocal. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “subvocal,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subvocal.

Source: subvocal on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.