What does eloquent mean?
Word: Eloquent
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Eloquent means able to speak or write clearly and powerfully, in a way that stirs people's feelings.
Synonyms: expressive, fluent, persuasive
Antonyms: inarticulate, tongue-tied, halting
Word origin: Comes from Latin eloqui, to speak out, from e, out, and loqui, to speak.
How do you spell eloquent?
Syllables: el - o - quent
Tricky part: The vowel after el is o, and the kw sound is written qu.
Watch out for: elequent, eloqent, elloquent
Memory tip: Keep the speaking part from Latin, loqu, in the middle: an o after el, and a q that is always followed by u.
Eloquent in a sentence
Example 1: She gave an eloquent speech on saving the mangroves.
Example 2: His silence was more eloquent than any words.
Example 3: The poem is an eloquent tribute to the poet's mother.
Fun Fact
Swami Vivekananda gave an eloquent speech in Chicago in 1893 that began with the famous words Sisters and Brothers of America.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word eloquent as used in the sentence:
The young debater was so eloquent that even the guest of honour leaned forward to listen.
a) articulate
b) nervous
c) hesitant
d) mumbling
Show answer
a) articulate. An eloquent speaker puts ideas into words clearly and well, which is what articulate means.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. eloquent 2. oratary 3. debait 4. rethoric
a) a formal discussion in which two sides argue
b) able to use words with skill and feeling
c) the skill of using language to persuade
d) the art of making formal speeches
Show answer
b) able to use words with skill and feeling. Oratary has a where an o belongs, debait ends -ait, not -ate, and rethoric puts its h after the t instead of the r, so only eloquent is right.
Word Cookie
One word in the sentence is spelt wrongly. Choose it:
Everyone in the hall agreed that the head girl's farewell speech was the most eloquant they had heard in years.
a) eloquant
b) agreed
c) farewell
d) heard
Show answer
a) eloquant. The ending is -ent, as in frequent and fluent, not -ant.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters to find the word that fits the sentence:
The visiting author's tuoqlene words about his village school won over the whole audience.
a) frequent
b) eloquent
c) eloquence
d) consequent
Show answer
b) eloquent. Eloquence would need a c, which also rules out consequent, and frequent has no l, so the word is eloquent.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. An eloquent letter is one that ____.
a) has no address on it
b) touches the reader deeply
c) was written in a hurry
d) is full of spelling errors
Show answer
b) touches the reader deeply
2. An eloquent speech usually leaves listeners ____.
a) confused and lost
b) moved and convinced
c) sleepy and tired
d) bored and restless
Show answer
b) moved and convinced
