Mellifluous
/məˈlɪfluəs/
Definitions
Having a pleasant, flowing sound; sweetly or smoothly flowing; musical; sweet-sounding.
/məˈlɪfluəs/
Pleasantly smooth and musical to hear
The cellist produced a mellifluous tone that resonated with the audience.
💡 Simply: Imagine a song that's so smooth and beautiful it's like liquid honey pouring out. That's mellifluous! Think of a singer with a voice like that, or music that makes you feel good all over.
👶 For kids: Sounds like honey is flowing. Sounds good to the ears!
More Examples
Her mellifluous laugh was like a gentle stream in the silence.
The radio DJ's mellifluous voice was perfect for the late-night show.
The mellifluous strains of the harp drifted through the castle halls.
How It's Used
"The singer's mellifluous voice filled the concert hall."
"The poet's mellifluous verses captivated the audience."
From Latin *mellifluus* ('flowing with honey'), from *mel* ('honey') + *fluere* ('to flow'). It entered English in the 17th century.
Used in the 17th century to describe poetry and music; it initially referred to the literal flow of honey and then expanded to the figurative sense of pleasant sounds.
Memory tip
Think of 'honey-flowing'. The sweetness and smoothness evoke the sound.
Practice
Word Origin
Root: mel (honey) + fluere (to flow)