lilt

noun
UK: /lɪlt/
US: /lɪlt/

  1. A pleasant gentle way of speaking that rises and falls slightly.

    1. She spoke with a charming Irish lilt.
    2. The music had a definite lilt, making it perfect for dancing, with a joyful lilt.

Synonyms

rise and fall cadence intonation swing rhythm
lilt verb

  1. To speak or sing with a pleasant gentle accent that rises and falls slightly.

    1. She began to lilt a tune.
    2. The children lilted the nursery rhyme, their voices filled with sweet lilt.

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "lilt" is /lɪlt/ in British English and /lɪlt/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "lilt": rise and fall, cadence, intonation, swing, rhythm.

Example usage of "lilt": "She spoke with a charming Irish lilt.". More examples on the page.