different between euphonious vs mellifluous

English

Etymology

From euphonical +? -ous (suffix forming adjectives denoting possession or presence of a quality, commonly in abundance). Euphonical is derived from euphonic +? -al (suffix forming adjectives with the sense ‘of or pertaining to’); with euphonic from euphony +? -ic (suffix forming adjectives with the sense ‘of or pertaining to’), and euphony borrowed from French euphonie, from Ancient Greek ??????? (euph?nía), from ??- (eu-, prefix meaning ‘good, well’) + ???? (ph?n?, “sound; (human) voice; discourse, speech”) (from Proto-Indo-European *b?eh?- (“to say, speak”)) + -??? (-í?, suffix forming feminine abstract nouns).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ju??f??.n?.?s/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ju?fo?.ni.?s/
• Rhymes: -??ni?s
• Hyphenation: eu?phon?i?ous

Adjective

euphonious (comparative more euphonious, superlative most euphonious)

1. Of sounds, especially speech: demonstrating or possessing euphony; agreeable to the ear; pleasant-sounding.

   Synonyms: (obsolete) euphonic, (archaic) euphonical, euphonous, mellifluous, sonorous; see also Thesaurus:euphonious

   Antonyms: cacophonous, noneuphonious, uneuphonious; see also Thesaurus:cacophonous

   Coordinate term: symphonious

Derived terms

• euphoniously
• euphoniousness
• noneuphonious
• uneuphonious

Related terms

Translations

See also

• Thesaurus:pleasant

References

Further reading

• phonaesthetics on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

English

Etymology

From Latin mellifluus (“flowing like honey”), from mel (“honey”) + flu? (“flow”). Compare superfluous and fluid, from same root, and with dulcet (“sweet speech”), alternative Latinate term with a similar meaning.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /m??l?flu.?s/, /m??l?flu.?s/

Adjective

mellifluous (comparative more mellifluous, superlative most mellifluous)

1. Flowing like honey.
2. (figuratively) Sweet, smooth and musical; pleasant to hear (generally used of a person's voice, tone or writing style).

   Synonyms: birdsweet, dulcet, euphonious, mellifluent

   • 1853: Sir Egerton Brydges, "Life of Milton"

     No verses can be more mellifluous than Petrarch's: something of this will perhaps be attributed to the softness of the Italian language; but the English tongue is also capable of it, however obstinately Johnson may have pronounced otherwise.

Derived terms

• mellifluousness

Related terms

• melliloquent
• superfluous

Translations