Guttural

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈɡʌtəɹəl/

Definitions

1. Characterized by a low and coarse vocal quality that comes from the throat
2. Having a harsh, throaty quality likely formed at the back of the vocal tract
3. Describing a sound made deep in the throat with a rough, grating tone

Etymology: "Guttural" comes from the Latin "guttur," meaning throat, and its Latin relative "gula" (gullet) hints at the same body part. The Latin word itself was a plain anatomical term, and the adjective was built from it by adding "-alis," a suffix meaning "relating to." Medieval Latin writers used "gutturalis" to describe things connected with the throat, and the English word arrived through Middle French "guttural," which carried the same sense of something belonging to the throat. The word's meaning stayed quite literal for a long time. A guttural sound is one articulated in the back of the throat, and speech sounds like the German "ch" in "Bach" are classic examples. Because such sounds were often heard as harsh or rough, "guttural" also came to describe a rasping, growling quality in a voice, which is the sense most people associate with it today.

Synonyms: throaty, raspy

Antonyms: smooth, melodic