The study of the pleasantness or unpleasantness of the way words and phrases sound (regardless of their meaning) is called phonaesthetics.
But I think the combination of sound and meaning is what makes for pretty words.
Consider the word “diarrhea” which trills off the tongue but isn’t a pleasant topic to ponder.
But the word “diary” is equally pleasing to the ear and has an intriguing meaning.
What Are the Most Beautiful Words?
The most beautiful words in English are those that thrill the ear and that stir the mind or soul.
They are words that inspire, uplift, excite, comfort, challenge, move and entice us. But they can also have a neutral or even unpleasant meaning (hemorrhage, flatulence, etc.).
British linguist, David Crystal, created a series of attributes of words that are commonly considered beautiful. Those attributes include:
Having three or more syllables.
Emphasis on the first syllable.
The presence of particular letters people enjoy saying (like I and M).
Ultimately, the most beautiful words are the words that you find beautiful.
What is the Prettiest Word in the World?
There are more than 7000 languages in the world, with hundreds of thousands of words in most of them. So it’s difficult (if not impossible) to narrow the list to one word alone.
You might start by exploring the most beautiful languages in the world which are often considered Italian, French, Arabic, and Turkish. But still, what each person finds beautiful is subjective.
Maybe we should just be happy there are so many lovely words in all languages.
How to Use Beautiful Words in English
Whether you are a logophile (a word lover) and simply enjoy the variety and character of words, or you’re a writer who is looking for the perfect word, you’ll find yourself needing to find aesthetic words at some point.
Maybe you wonder, “What are elegant words I can use to reflect my intelligence or sophisticated style.” The words you use do communicate to others who you are and how you see yourself.
You can use these words to . . .
Expand your vocabulary.
Write a memorable poem or song lyrics related to something lovely and pleasing.
An exceptionally beautiful, innocent, or kind person.
16. Apotheosis
The highest point in the development of something; culmination or climax.
17. Assemblage
A collection or gathering of things or people.
18. Astonishing
Extremely surprising or impressive; amazing.
19. Astounding
Surprisingly impressive or notable.
20. Ascension
The act of rising to an important position or a higher level.
21. Astral
Of, connected with or resembling the stars.
22. Audacious
Showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks.
23. Aurora
A natural electrical phenomenon characterized by the appearance of streamers of reddish or greenish light in the sky, usually near the northern or southern magnetic pole.
24. Awe
A feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder.
25. Beatify
To make holy or sacred.
26. Beauteous
Beautiful.
27. Becoming
Flattering a person’s appearance.
28. Beguile
To charm or enchant (someone), sometimes in a deceptive way.
29. Belonging
An affinity for a place or situation.
30. Beloved
Dearly loved.
31. Benefactor
A person who gives money or other help to a person or cause.
32. Benevolence
The quality of being well-meaning; kindness.
33. Blazing
To burn fiercely or brightly.
34. Blessing
A beneficial thing for which one is grateful; something that brings well-being.
35. Bliss
Perfect happiness; great joy.
36. Blossom
The state or period of flowering.
37. Breathtaking
Astonishing or awe-inspiring in quality, so as to take one’s breath away.
38. Breeziness
Fresh and animated;lively.
39. Brilliance
An intense brightness of light.
40. Brisk
Active, fast, and energetic.
41. Bubbling
Characterized by cheerful high spirits.
42. Bucolic
Relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life.
43. Bungalow
A low house, with a broad front porch, having either no upper floor or upper rooms set in the roof, typically with dormer windows.
44. Buoyancy
The ability or tendency to float in water or air or some other fluid.
45. Calcination
To heat (a substance) to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point, causing loss of moisture, reduction or oxidation, and the decomposition of carbonates and other compounds.
46. Calm
Not showing or feeling nervousness, anger, or other strong emotions.
47. Candor
The quality of being open and honest in expression; frankness.
48. Caprice
A sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior.
49. Carpe Diem
Latin, ‘seize the day!’, a quotation from Horace.
50. Cascade
A small waterfall, typically one of several that fall in stages down a steep rocky slope.
51. Cashmere
Fine, soft wool, originally that from the Kashmir goat.
52. Catharsis
The process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.
53. Celerity
The swiftness of movement.
54. Centered
Well balanced and confident or serene.
55. Champion
A person who fights or argues for a cause or on behalf of someone else.
56. Charisma
Compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others.
57. Charm
The power or quality of giving delight or arousing admiration.
58. Chatoyant
Of a gem, especially when cut en cabochon, showing a band of bright reflected light caused by aligned inclusions in the stone.
The final part of a play, movie, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved.
90. Desirable
Wanted or wished for as being an attractive, useful, or necessary course of action.
91. Desuetude
A state of disuse.
92. Desultory
Lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm.
93. Devotion
Love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person, activity, or cause.
94. Diaphanous
Light, delicate, and translucent, especially a fabric.
95. Discombobulate
To disconcert or confuse someone.
96. Dissemble
To conceal one’s true motives, feelings, or beliefs.
97. Divinity
The state or quality of being divine.
98. Doting
Extremely and uncritically fond of someone; adoring.
99. Dreamy
Having a magical or pleasantly unreal quality; dreamlike.
100. Dulcet
A sweet and soothing sound.
101. Earnest
Resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction
102. Ebullience
The quality of being cheerful and full of energy; exuberance.
103. Ecstasy
An overwhelming feeling of great happiness or joyful excitement.
104. Effervescent
A liquid giving off bubbles; fizzy.
105. Efflorescence
A state or time of flowering.
106. Effortless
Requiring no physical or mental exertion.
107. Elation
Great happiness and exhilaration.
108. Elegant
Pleasingly graceful and stylish in appearance or manner.
109. Elision
The omission of a sound or syllable when speaking
110. Elixir
A magical or medicinal potion.
111. Eloquence
Fluent or persuasive speaking or writing.
112. Embrocation
A liquid used for rubbing on the body to relieve pain from sprains and strains.
113. Emollient
Having the quality of softening or soothing the skin.
114. Emulate
Match or surpass (a person or achievement), typically by imitation.
115. Enamoured
To be filled with a feeling of love for someone or something.
116. Enchanted
Placed under a spell; bewitched.
117. Enraptured
Experiencing intense pleasure or joy.
118. Enthralled
Experiencing fascinated attention.
119. Ephemeral
Lasting for a very short time.
120. Epiphany
A moment of sudden revelation or insight.
121. Equanimity
Mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation.
122. Equilibrium
A state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced.
123. Erstwhile
Former.
124. Ethereal
Extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world.
125. Etiquette
The customary code of polite behavior in society or among members of a particular profession or group.
126. Euphoria
A feeling or state of intense excitement and happiness.
127. Evanescent
Soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing.
128. Evocative
Bringing strong images, memories, or feelings to mind.
129. Exonerate
To absolve someone from blame for a fault or wrongdoing, especially after due consideration of the case.
130. Exquisite
Extremely beautiful and, typically, delicate.
131. Exuberant
Filled with or characterized by a lively energy and excitement.
132. Fabulous
Amazingly good; wonderful.
133. Faithful
Loyal, constant, and steadfast.
134. Fascination
The power to fascinate someone; the quality of being fascinating.
135. Feasible
Possible to do easily or conveniently.
136. Feisty
A person who is relatively small or weak but also lively, determined, and courageous.
137. Felicity
Intense happiness.
138. Festive
Cheerful and jovially celebratory.
139. Fetching
Attractive.
140. Fidelity
Faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support.
141. Filament
A slender threadlike object or fiber, especially one found in animal or plant structures.
142. Flawless
Without any blemishes or imperfections; perfect.
143. Flourish
To grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way, especially as the result of a particularly favorable environment.
144. Flowing
Hanging or draping loosely and gracefully.
145. Forbearance
Patient self-control; restraint and tolerance.
146. Fortitude
Courage in pain or adversity.
147. Friendship
The emotions or conduct of friends; the state of being friends.
148. Fugacious
Tending to disappear; fleeting.
149. Fulfilling
Making someone satisfied or happy because of fully developing their character or abilities.
150. Furtive
Attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically because of guilt or a belief that discovery would lead to trouble; secretive.
151. Gambol
Run or jump about playfully.
152. Gargantuan
Enormous.
153. Giddy
Having a sensation of whirling and a tendency to fall or stagger; dizzy.
154. Ginger
A hot, fragrant spice made from the rhizome of a plant, which may be chopped or powdered for cooking, preserved in syrup, or candied.
155. Glamour
An attractive or exciting quality that makes certain people or things seem appealing.
156. Glorious
Having a striking beauty or splendor that evokes feelings of delighted admiration.
157. Goddess
A woman who is adored, especially for her beauty.
158. Gorgeous
Beautiful; very attractive.
159. Gossamer
Used to refer to something very light, thin, and insubstantial or delicate.
160. Graceful
Having or showing grace or elegance.
161. Halcyon
Denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful.
162. Handsome
A good-looking man.
163. Harbinger
A forerunner of something.
164. Harmony
The quality of forming a pleasing and consistent whole.
165. Heartfelt
A feeling or its expression that is sincere; deeply and strongly felt.
166. Heartwarming
Emotionally rewarding or uplifting.
167. Heavenly
Very pleasing; wonderful.
168. Hilarity
Extreme amusement, especially when expressed by laughter.
169. Holiness
The state of being holy.
170. Hopefulness
Having or manifesting hope.
171. Humility
A modest or low view of one’s own importance; humbleness.
172. Idyllic
A time or place that is extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque.
173. Illumination
Lighting or light.
174. Illustrious
Well known, respected, and admired for past achievements.
175. Imbrication
An overlapping of edges (as of tiles or scales).
176. Imbroglio
An extremely confused, complicated, or embarrassing situation.
177. Imbue
To inspire or permeate with a feeling or quality.
178. Incandescence
The light emmited by an incandescent object.
179. Incipient
In an initial stage; beginning to happen or develop.
180. Ineffable
Too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words.
181. Ingenue
An innocent or unsophisticated young woman, especially in a play or film.
182. Inglenook
A space on either side of a large fireplace.
183. Insouciance
Casual lack of concern; indifference.
184. Intrepid
Fearless; adventurous (often used for rhetorical or humorous effect).
185. Inure
Accustom to something, especially something unpleasant.
186. Invincible
Too powerful to be defeated or overcome.
187. Iridescent
Showing luminous colors that seem to change when seen from different angles.
188. Jaunty
Having or expressing a lively, cheerful, and self-confident manner.
189. Jocular
Fond of or characterized by joking; humorous or playful.
190. Jovial
Cheerful and friendly.
191. Joyous
Feeling,showing,or causing joy;joyful
192. Jubilant
Feeling or expressing great happiness and triumph.
193. Judicious
Having or showing good judgment or sense.
194. Juvenescent
Becoming young or youthful.
195. Kindred
One’s family and relations.
196. Kindliness
The quality of being kind, warmhearted, or gentle; kindness.
197. Kissable
Capable of being kissed; inviting to be kissed through attractiveness.
198. Labyrinthine
A network like a labyrinth; irregular and twisting.
199. Lagniappe
Something given as a bonus or extra gift.
200. Lagoon
A stretch of salt water separated from the sea by a low sandbank or coral reef.
201. Languid
Displaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed.
202. Languor
The state or feeling, often pleasant, of tiredness or inertia.
203. Lassitude
A state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy.
204. Leisure
Free time.
205. Lilting
Speak, sing, or sound with a lilt.
206. Lissome
A person or their body that is thin, supple, and graceful.
207. Lithe
A person’s body that is thin, supple, and graceful.
208. Lovable
Inspiring or deserving love or affection.
209. Lullaby
A quiet, gentle song sung to send a child to sleep.
210. Luminescence
The emission of light by a substance that has not been heated, as in fluorescence and phosphorescence.
211. Luxury
Sumptuous or extremely comfortable living surroundings.
212. Magnificent
Splendid in appearance;grand.
213. Marvelous
Causing great wonder; extraordinary.
214. Mellifluous
Sweet or musical; pleasant to hear.
215. Mellow
Pleasantly smooth or soft; free from harshness.
216. Mindfulness
A mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.
217. Minutiae
Small or trivial details.
218. Moiety
Each of two parts into which a thing is or can be divided.
219. Mondegreen
A misunderstood or misinterpreted word or phrase resulting from a mishearing of the lyrics of a song.
220. Murmurous
Filled with or characterized by murmurs; low and indistinct
221. Nemesis
A long-standing rival; an archenemy.
222. Namaste
A respectful greeting said when giving a namaskar.
223. Nebulous
Unclear, vague, or ill-defined concept or idea.
224. Nirvana
A transcendent state in which there is neither suffering, desire, nor sense of self, and the subject is released from the effects of karma and the cycle of death and rebirth. It represents the final goal of Buddhism.
225. Nourishment
The food or other substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition.
226. Nurture
Care for and encourage the growth or development of.
227. Oblivion
The state of being unaware or unconscious of what is happening.
228. Omnipotent
Having unlimited power; able to do anything.
229. Onomatopoeia
The formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named
230. Optimistic
Hopeful and confident about the future.
231. Opulent
Ostentatiously rich and luxurious or lavish.
232. Pacify
Quell the anger, agitation, or excitement of.
233. Palimpsest
A manuscript or piece of writing material on which the original writing has been effaced to make room for later writing but of which traces remain.
234. Panacea
A solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases.
235. Panoply
A complete or impressive collection of things.
236. Paradise
An ideal or idyllic place or state.
237. Passion
Strong and barely controllable emotion.
238. Pastiche
An artistic work in a style that imitates that of another work, artist, or period.
239. Persevering
Persistent; constant in the execution of a purpose.
240. Perspicacious
Clear-sighted; mentally perceptive or acute; keen.
241. Petrichor
A pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather.
242. Phenomenal
Very remarkable; extraordinary.
243. Phosphenes
A ring or spot of light produced by pressure on the eyeball or direct stimulation of the visual system other than by light.
244. Piquancy
A pleasantly sharp and appetizing flavor.
245. Plethora
A large or excessive amount of something.
246. Precious
An object, substance, or resource of great value; not to be wasted or treated carelessly.
247. Prevarication
To deviate from the truth
248. Propinquity
The state of being close to someone or something; proximity.
249. Prosperity
The state of being prosperous.
250. Pyrrhic
A victory won at too great a cost to have been worthwhile for the victor.
251. Quaint
Attractively unusual or old-fashioned.
252. Quantum
A discrete quantity of energy proportional in magnitude to the frequency of the radiation it represents.
253. Quickening
To enter into a phase of active growth and development
254. Quiescent
In a state or period of inactivity or dormancy.
255. Quietude
A state of stillness, calmness, and quiet in a person or place.
256. Quintessential
Representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class.
257. Radiant
Sending out light; shining or glowing brightly.
258. Rapturous
Characterized by, feeling, or expressing great pleasure or enthusiasm.
260. Ratatouille
A vegetable dish consisting of onions, zucchini, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers, fried and stewed in oil and sometimes served cold.
261. Ravel
Untangle or unravel something.
262. Ravishing
Delightful; entrancing.
263. Redolent
Strongly reminiscent or suggestive of something.
264. Rejuvenate
Make someone or something look or feel younger, fresher, or more lively.
265. Relent
Abandon or mitigate a harsh intention or cruel treatment.
266. Repose
A state of rest, sleep, or tranquility.
267. Resilience
The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.
268. Resplendent
Attractive and impressive through being richly colorful or sumptuous.
269. Revelation
A surprising and previously unknown fact, especially one that is made known in a dramatic way.
270. Reverence
Deep respect for someone or something.
271. Rhapsodic
Immoderately empassioned or enthusiastic.
272. Righteousness
The quality of being morally right or justifiable.
273. Riparian
Relating to or situated on the banks of a river.
274. Ripple
A small wave or series of waves on the surface of water, especially as caused by an object dropping into it or a slight breeze.
275. Romance
A feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love.
276. Sacred
Connected with God (or the gods) or dedicated to a religious purpose and so deserving veneration.
277. Salve
Something that is soothing or consoling for wounded feelings or an uneasy conscience.
278. Sapphire
A transparent precious stone, typically blue, that is a variety of corundum (aluminum oxide).
279. Savor
Enjoy or appreciate something pleasant completely, especially by dwelling on it.
280. Scintilla
A tiny trace or spark of a specified quality or feeling.
281. Sempiternal
Eternal and unchanging; everlasting.
282. Sequoia
A redwood tree, especially the California redwood.
283. Seraglio
A large harem.
284. Serendipity
The occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.
285. Serenity
The state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled.
286. Silky
Of or resembling silk, especially in being soft, fine, and lustrous.
287. Simplicity
The quality or condition of being easy to understand or do.
288. Solitude
The state or situation of being alone.
289. Somnambulism
An abnormal condition of sleep in which motor acts (such as walking) are performed
290. Sonorous
Capable of producing a deep or ringing sound.
291. Soulmate
A person ideally suited to another as a close friend or romantic partner.
292. Spacious
Having ample space.
293. Spellbound
Hold the complete attention of someone as though by magic; fascinate.
294. Spherical
Shaped like a sphere.
295. Splendid
Magnificent; very impressive.
296. Sprightliness
Marked by a gay lightness and vivacity.
297. Statuesque
An attractively tall and dignified woman.
298. Sublime
Of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe.
299. Succulent
Tender, juicy, and tasty food.
300. Summery
Characteristic of or suitable for summer.
301. Sumptuous
Splendid and expensive-looking.
302. Supine
Lying face upward.
303. Surreptitious
Kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of.
304. Susquehanna
A river 444 miles (714 kilometers) long in the eastern U.S. flowing from central New York south through Pennsylvania and into the Chesapeake Bay in northern Maryland
305. Susurrous
Full of whispering sounds.
306. Symphony
Something regarded, typically favorably, as a composition of different elements.
307. Talisman
An object, typically an inscribed ring or stone, that is thought to have magic powers and to bring good luck.
308. Tenacity
The quality or fact of being able to grip something firmly; grip.
309. Tender
Showing gentleness and concern or sympathy.
310. Tintinnabulation
A ringing or tinkling sound.
311. Tolerance
The ability or willingness to tolerate something, in particular, the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with.
312. Tranquility
The quality or state of being tranquil; calm.
313. Transfiguration
A complete change of form or appearance into a more beautiful or spiritual state.
314. Triumph
A great victory or achievement.
315. Umbrella
A device consisting of a circular canopy of cloth on a folding metal frame supported by a central rod, used as protection against rain or sometimes sun.
316. Unabashed
Not embarrassed, disconcerted, or ashamed.
317. Unflappable
Having or showing calmness in a crisis.
318. Unification
The process of being united or made into a whole.
319. Unique
Being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else.
320. Varnish
Resin dissolved in a liquid for applying on wood, metal, or other materials to form a hard, clear, shiny surface when dry.
321. Veneration
Great respect; reverence.
322. Verity
A true principle or belief, especially one of fundamental importance.
323. Vestigial
Forming a very small remnant of something that was once much larger or more noticeable.
A mass of whirling fluid or air, especially a whirlpool or whirlwind
330. Vulnerable
Susceptible to physical or emotional attack or harm.
331. Waft
Pass or cause to pass easily or gently through or as if through the air.
332. Wanderlust
A strong desire to travel.
333. Warmhearted
A person or their actions that are sympathetic and kind.
334. Wherewithal
The money or other means needed for a particular purpose.
335. Wholesome
Conducive to or suggestive of good health and physical well-being.
337. Wondrous
Inspiring a feeling of wonder or delight; marvelous.
336. Worship
The feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity.
338. Xanadu
An idealized place of great or idyllic magnificence and beauty.
339. Xenophobia
Dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries.
340. Xylophone
A musical instrument played by striking a row of wooden bars of graduated length with one or more small wooden or plastic mallets.
341. Yearling
An animal (especially a sheep, calf, or foal) that is a year old or that is in its second year.
342. Yearn
Have an intense feeling of longing for something, typically something that one has lost or been separated from.
343. Yesteryear
Last year or the recent past, especially as nostalgically recalled.
344. Zealous
Having or showing zeal.
345. Zenith
The time at which something is most powerful or successful.
346. Zephyr
A soft gentle breeze.
347. Zestful
Characterized by great enthusiasm and energy.
348. Zinfandel
A variety of wine grape grown in California.
349. Zither
A musical instrument consisting of a flat wooden soundbox with numerous strings stretched across it placed horizontally and played with the fingers and a plectrum. It is used especially in central European folk music.
350. Zoophilic
Having an attraction to or preference for animals.
Beautiful Words with Dark Meanings
There are some words that sound lovely but have darker or more negative meanings. Take a look at these pretty words whose sound belies their meanings.
351. Amorphous
Without a clearly defined shape or form.
352. Atrament
A very dark substance — usually liquid.
353. Caliginous
Misty, dark, obscure.
354. Cimmerian
A member of a mythical people living in perpetual mist and darkness near the land of the dead.
355. Crepuscule
Twilight. Obscure, doubtful, or uncertain.
356. Darkling
Growing dark or characterized by darkness.
357. Dystopian
Relating to an imagined state or society where there is great suffering or injustice.
358. Eigengrau
The dark grey color that human eyes see in perfect darkness.
359. Gloaming
Twilight, dusk.
360. Nebulochaotic
A state of being hazy and confused.
361. Nefarious
Wicked or criminal.
362. Nyctophilia
An attraction to darkness or night; finding relaxation or comfort in the darkness.
363. Pernicious
Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.
364. Photophobic
Having an extreme sensitivity to light; growing best under reduced illumination.
