Prose & StyleIntermediate
Euphony
Pleasant, smooth, or harmonious sound in language.
Principle
Beauty of sound can become part of meaning.
Takeaways
- Euphony often uses liquid consonants, open vowels, and flowing rhythm.
- It can soothe, seduce, elegize, or idealize.
- Too much sweetness can falsify harsh material.
Overview
Euphony is the pleasing quality of sound in language. It matters in prose as well as poetry because sonic texture shapes emotional reception.
Examples
- A lullaby-like sentence softens a scene of farewell.
- Liquid sounds make a river description feel continuous.