I went scouting through the internet for words to describe a character’s voice. Here’s a handy list for all you writers:
- Adenoidal/Nasal – Some of the sound seems to come through the nose.
- Appealing – Shows that you want help, approval, or agreement.
- Breathy – With loud breathing noises.
- Brittle – You sound as if you are about to cry.
- Croaky – Sounds as if they have a sore throat.
- Dead – They feel or show no emotion.
- Disembodied – Voice comes from someone who you cannot see.
- Flat – Spoken in a voice that does not go up and down.
- Fruity – Deep and strong in a pleasant way.
- Grating – Unpleasant and annoying.
- Gravelly – Low and rough.
- Gruff – Has a rough low sound.
- Guttural – Deep and made at the back of your throat.
- High-Pitched – Very high and shrill.
- Hoarse – Low rough voice, usually because their throat is sore.
- Honeyed – Falsely sweet voice.
- Husky – A husky voice is deep and sounds hoarse often in an attractive way.
- Low – Quiet and difficult to hear / in a deep voice.
- Matter-of-fact – Used about someone’s behavior or voice.
- Modulated – Controlled and pleasant to listen to.
- Monotonous – Boring because it does not change in loudness or become higher or lower.
- Orotund – Loud and clear.
- Penetrating – So high or loud that it makes you uncomfortable.
- Plummy – This word shows that you dislike people who speak like this.
- Quietly – In a quiet voice.
- Raucous – Loud and sounds rough.
- Ringing – very loud and clear.
- Rough – Not soft and is unpleasant to listen to.
- Shrill – Very loud, high, and unpleasant.
- Silvery – Clear, light, and pleasant.
- Singsong – Rises and falls in a musical way.
- Small – A small voice or sound is quiet.
- Smoky – Sexually attractive in a slightly mysterious way.
- Softly Spoken – A quiet gentle voice.
- Sotto Voce – A very quiet voice.
- Stentorian – Loud and severe.
- Strangulated – One that someone stops before they finish making it.
- Strident – Loud and unpleasant.
- Taut – Shows someone is nervous or angry.
- Thick – Voice sounds less clear because of an emotion.
- Thin – High and unpleasant to listen to.
- Throaty – Low and seems to come from deep in your throat.
- Tight – Shows that you are nervous or annoyed.
- Toneless – Does not express any emotion.
- Tremulous – It is not steady because you are afraid or excited.
- Wheezy – Has difficulty breathing.
- Wobbly – Unstable tone due to fright or emotions.