subvocalization

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noun

The formation in thought of words or statements, which are expressed inwardly but not uttered aloud.

OriginEnglish vocalization ← Middle English vocal ← Latin vōcālis →
Scrabble 31
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Meanings

nounsubvocalization (countable and uncountable, plural subvocalizations)

plural subvocalizations

  1. uncountableThe formation in thought of words or statements, which are expressed inwardly but not uttered aloud.
  2. countableSubvocal words or statements so formed.

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. Englishvocalize
  16. Englishvocalization
  17. Englishsubvocalization

From sub- + vocalization.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

subvocalization. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subvocalization

MLA

“subvocalization.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subvocalization. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “subvocalization,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/subvocalization.

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