How to Describe a Person's Voice in Writing

In literature, capturing a character's voice is as vital as describing their physical appearance. A well-executed voice description can transport readers to different atmospheres, evoke emotions, and bring characters to life. This article will guide you through various techniques to describe a person's voice in writing, providing examples and tips to ensure your descriptions are vivid and engaging.

Elements to Consider When Describing a Person's Voice

1. Tone and Quality

When describing a person's voice, start with its basic qualities. Tone can be described by its pitch and volume.

Pitch: Is the voice high, low, or somewhere in between?

Example: "Her voice straddled a high, melodic pitch, a stark contrast to her usually solemn demeanor."

Volume: Is it loud, soft, commanding, or whispery?

Example: "His voice crept through the room with a whispery, menacing whisper, setting an eerie atmosphere."

2. Speed and Rhythm

Speed and rhythm add dynamism to voice descriptions.

Pace: Is the speech rapid, slow, or variable?

Example: "Mr. D? clarified each point with a deliberate pace, ensuring every word sank in."

Cadence: Is there a particular rhythm or flow to their speech?

Example: "Sarah's cadence was melodic, a symphony of cadenced words that flowed like a gentle river through her sentences."

3. Emotion and Expression

Emotional tone and expressiveness are key elements that can make a voice description rich and evocative.

Emotional Tone: What feelings are conveyed through the voice?

Example: "When she laughed, a light, musical tone filled the room, lightening the mood with infectious joy."

Expressiveness: Is the voice flat, animated, or full of inflection?

Example: "Tom's voice was animated, full of inflections that mirrored the passion of the subject."

4. Accent and Dialect

Regional influences and accents can add depth and character to a voice description.

Regional Influences: Does the person have an accent or specific dialect that adds character?

Example: "His Southern drawl softened each word, hinting at stories untold and traditions alive."

5. Unique Characteristics

Distinctive features can make a voice stand out, adding a unique personality to a character.

Distinctive Features: Any quirks or unique aspects, such as a stutter, lisp, or a particular way of pronouncing certain sounds.

Example: "As she spoke, her quick stutters and sibilant 'ss' added an almost musical rhythmic quality to her normally reserved persona."

6. Contextual Influence

The environment can significantly affect a person's voice, adding layers to your description.

Setting and Situation: How does the environment affect the voice?

Example: "In the quiet of the forest, Sarah's voice carried a deep, reverberating quality as if her words were part of the ancient trees' echoes."

Example Description

Combining these elements, a fuller description might read:

“His voice was deep and resonant with a gravelly texture that hinted at years of smoking. He spoke slowly, each word carefully articulated as if weighing its impact. There was a hint of a Southern drawl, which softened the edges of his commanding presence. When he laughed, it was a rich, infectious sound that drew others in, lighting up the room.”

Additional Techniques and Examples

Melodious, cheerful, soft, loud, authoritative, rasping, sexy, thunderous - these are just a few adjectives that can be used to describe voices in various contexts.

The man was dying in my arms. I had no herbs to give him, and I felt the tension in his limbs melting away. In such cases, I had watched my yiayia give solace to those she could not save. In my memories, her voice had cleared away the muck and drudge as she sang the verse of release for the tortured soul who still clung to the frail, drained body of a man, father of his tribe, and protector of his village.

“Canyons part the open plain, Oceans fill them up again. Sunlight colors leaves with green…”

“Mothers’ tears heal more than seems. Winter calls it all again Canyons part the open plain. My grandmother’s voice had floated like a sheet of silk spread on an ocean breeze, resonating with the chills that brushed my skin, not harsh and bruising as I had felt other voices. I remember, it made me a bit sleepy as usually happened when I heard my Yiayia’s song.”

I could not sing like Yiayia, but the words were burned into my heart, so I opened my lips to repeat her words in my own gravelly voice.

Canyons part the open plain...

By employing these techniques, you can create rich, evocative, and memorable voice descriptions in your writing, enhancing the depth and realism of your characters.