What does sonorous mean?
Word: Sonorous
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Sonorous means having a full, deep and pleasant sound.
Synonyms: booming
How do you spell sonorous?
Syllables: son - or - ous
Tricky part: The middle vowel is said so weakly that it could be almost anything. Pupils write sonerous or sonarous, but the same vowel comes twice before the r.
Watch out for: sonerous, sonarous, sonorus
Memory tip: Think of two round mouths singing O, O: that is the pair of matching vowels at the start of this word.
Sonorous in a sentence
Example 1: Grandfather's sonorous laugh could be heard from the far end of the lane.
Example 2: A large brass bell gives a sonorous note that hangs in the air.
Example 3: Our new assembly announcer has a sonorous voice that needs no microphone.
Fun Fact
In science lessons, sonorous has a special use: most metals are sonorous, which means they ring when struck. That is why school bells are made of metal and not wood.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
sonnorous
a) o
b) n
c) s
d) r
Show answer
b) n. Sonorous keeps every consonant single.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
The tour guide's ornssouo voice filled the great hall of the palace.
a) onerous
b) ponderous
c) sonorous
d) generous
Show answer
c) sonorous. Three o's and no e: count them and the rival words fall away.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word sonorous as used in the sentence:
The narrator's sonorous voice held the attention of everyone at the planetarium.
a) shrill
b) resonant
c) hoarse
d) faint
Show answer
b) resonant. A resonant voice is deep and carries well.
Spell-o-Spell
One word in the list is misspelt and three are spelt correctly. Choose what the misspelt word means.
1. rhythmic 2. harmonious 3. melodeous 4. sonorous
a) sounding good together
b) having a regular beat
c) rich and ringing, like a large gong
d) having a sweet and pleasing tune
Show answer
d) having a sweet and pleasing tune. Melodeous should read melodious, with an i before the ous.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Whose voice would people be most likely to call sonorous?
a) a radio newsreader with a rich tone
b) a child whispering in the library
c) a toddler squeaking with excitement
d) a shy pupil mumbling into his collar
Show answer
a) a radio newsreader with a rich tone
2. A review calls a speech "sonorous but empty". What is the writer saying?
a) It sounded fine but said very little
b) It was short and very clever indeed
c) It was hard to hear but full of wisdom
d) It was long and packed with useful facts
Show answer
a) It sounded fine but said very little
