What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
unvoiced
Example
The 'p' in 'pat' is an unvoiced consonant. [unvoiced: adjective]
Example
The 's' sound in 'snake' is unvoiced. [unvoiced: adjective]
Example
The 'th' sound in 'think' is an unvoiced dental fricative. [unvoiced: adjective]
soft
Example
She spoke in a soft voice so as not to wake the baby. [soft: adjective]
Example
The cat's fur was soft to the touch. [soft: adjective]
Example
The music had a soft melody that was soothing to listen to. [soft: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Soft is more commonly used than unvoiced in everyday language. Soft is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while unvoiced is a more specialized term used primarily in linguistic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between unvoiced and soft?
Unvoiced is a technical term used in linguistics and is therefore more formal than soft, which has a more general and everyday connotation and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
