# intonation

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɪntəˈneɪʃən/ · frequency rank #35,362

## Definitions
1. The rise and fall of the voice in speaking.
2. Emotive stress used to increase the power of delivery in speech.
3. A sound made by, or resembling that made by, a musical instrument.
4. Singing or playing in good tune or otherwise.
5. Reciting in a musical prolonged tone; intonating or singing of the opening phrase of a plain-chant, psalm, or canticle by a single voice, as of a priest.

## Etymology
From French intonation, from Medieval Latin intonatio, from intonō + -tiō.

## Easily confused with
- **invocation** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/intonation-vs-invocation)
- **intention** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/intention-vs-intonation)
- **innovation** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/innovation-vs-intonation)

## Common misspellings (15)
`inntonation`, `inotnation`, `intnoation`, `intoantion`, `intonaiton`, `intonasion`, `intonatino`, `intonationn`, `intonatoin`, `intonattion`, `intonnation`, `intontaion`, `inttonation`, `itnonation`, `nitonation`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/intonation