Ever come across a word that just sounds beautiful? Words with a lyrical quality that roll off the tongue in a really pleasing way. You know, the ones – they evoke a sense of beauty or artistry through their sound alone.
In this post, we’re exploring 11 esthetically pleasing words that start with the letter S. Some you may know, others may be new discoveries. Either way, we hope you find a new favorite word – one that sparks your imagination or inspires creative thoughts.
Synesthesia
Synesthesia refers to when the senses get crossed or mixed up in a way. For example, someone with synesthesia may actually hear colors or taste sounds. Can you imagine that? I’d love to know what certain songs or voices would taste like!
Poets have long used synesthetic descriptions in their writing to help readers have a more full sensory experience of the concepts and ideas being conveyed. By describing something as having a particular color or texture, it engages more of our senses than just sight or hearing alone. It can make abstract ideas and emotions feel more vivid and real.
Solitude
Solitude is a beautiful word that evokes images of quiet reflection and peaceful stillness. To me, solitude means being alone in a way that nourishes my soul rather than isolates it. It gives me the gift of time and space to think deeply, observe my inner landscape, and reconnect with my true self.
Solitude is not about escaping from others, but rather about creating space for myself so I can return to the world renewed, refreshed, and more fully present. The beauty of solitude lies in its simplicity – the chance to sit quietly and savor the gift of just being, if only for a moment.
Saudade
The word ‘saudade’ is Portuguese in origin and refers to a melancholic longing or nostalgia for someone or something that is unattainable. It evokes a feeling of deep affection for what is lost. The closest English translation is ‘to miss’ but saudade implies a more poetic and profound sense of loss and mourning over what can never return.
Serene
Serene describes a state of calm, peaceful tranquility. It comes from the Latin word “serenus,” meaning clear or untroubled. When we describe something as serene, we mean that it is perfectly still and quiet, free from disturbances or agitation.
There is a sense of harmony, balance and ease that comes with serenity. A serene atmosphere allows the mind to achieve a meditative state of rest. The word itself is beautiful, conjuring images of clear blue skies, gently rippling water, and soft white clouds. The serene moments in life allow us to recharge and refresh, even if only briefly.
Sublime
The word sublime evokes a sense of grandeur and magnificence that inspires awe and veneration. When you encounter something sublime, it stirs profound emotions within you. Majestic mountain vistas, the raw power of a massive storm, a masterful work of art—these are sublime in nature.
The sublime is all about scale and power that makes you feel small in the best possible way. It fills you with a mix of fear and exhilaration in the face of something greater than yourself. The sublime reminds you of forces beyond human control and a beauty more tremendous than everyday life.
Surreal
Have you ever seen something so strange and bizarre that it feels like you’ve entered a dream world? That’s what surreal means – having a dreamlike sense of strangeness. Surreal experiences often have a fantastical and illogical quality to them.
In everyday speech, you might describe an encounter or event as surreal if it felt utterly strange or dreamlike in its illogic or bizarre nature. A surreal landscape or space has a fantastical, otherworldly feel to it.
Serendipity
Serendipity refers to pleasant discoveries that happen by accident or chance. The word comes from an old Persian fairy tale called The Travels and Adventures of Three Princes of Serendip. In the story, the princes made discoveries by accidents and sagacity.
Today, serendipity means stumbling upon something useful or interesting while looking for something else. Some examples of serendipitous discoveries:
- Penicillin: Alexander Fleming discovered the first antibiotic after returning from vacation and noticing mold growing on a petri dish.
- Post-it Notes: Spencer Silver created a weak adhesive for 3M, but it took years before a colleague found a use for it—the Post-it Note.
- Chocolate Chip Cookies: Ruth Wakefield added chopped-up chocolate bars to cookie dough, expecting the chocolate to melt into the batter. Instead, the chocolate chunks remained intact, creating the first chocolate chip cookie.
Sonorous
Sonorous words are pleasing to hear or say aloud, with a full, deep, reverberating sound. Words like:
- Euphonious: sweet or pleasing to the ear.
- Resonant: producing deep, full, reverberating sound.
- Melodious: musical; tuneful.
- Dulcet: sweet to the ear; melodious.
These sonorous words are lovely to speak, with an open vowel and consonant sounds that seem to echo. They have a richness that lingers in the air, caressing the ear. Use sonorous words to create prose that is a joy to read aloud.
Supine
To be supine is to lie face up. When you’re in a supine position, you’re lying on your back with your face pointed towards the sky. Think of it as the opposite of being prone, where you’re lying face down.
What could be more calming than gazing up at a bright blue sky or a sea of shimmering stars? Sometimes, we all need a chance to slow down, lie back, and appreciate the simple pleasures in life. Supine is probably one of the most beautiful positive words that start with S in English.
Susurrus
A susurrus refers to a soft, whispering or rustling sound. It’s the gentle whisperings and murmurings you might hear from:
- The wind rustling through leaves
- A bubbling brook
- Hushed conversations
The word susurrus comes from Latin, meaning “to buzz, hum, or whisper.” Using it in a sentence: “The susurrus of the swaying palm fronds in the breeze lulled me into a peaceful calm.”
Surreptitious
To act in a surreptitious manner is to do something secretly or stealthily. If you sneak around or quietly steal cookies from the cookie jar without getting caught, you’re being surreptitious.
To pull off a surreptitious act, one must be sly and cunning in order not to get found out. Spies, for example, have to operate in a surreptitious fashion to gather intelligence without revealing their true identity or purpose.
Sempiternal
Meaning “everlasting” or “eternal”, the word sempiternal evokes a sense of endlessness or infinity. Things that are sempiternal last forever or for an indefinitely long period of time. The night sky, the ocean, concepts like love or hope can be described as sempiternal.
Usage example: “The sempiternal nature of the universe filled her with wonder and existential questions about our place in the grand scale of time.”
The word sempiternal has a dreamy, poetic quality to it. Referring to something as sempiternal hints at its eternal beauty, significance, or influence.
Sibilant
Sibilant words are pleasing to the ear. They contain ‘s’ sounds that create a hissing or rustling effect. Using sibilant words in your writing can make it more poetic and evocative. Some examples of sibilant words are:
- Susurrus: a whispering or rustling sound
- Serendipity: finding something good without looking for it
- Soliloquy: act of talking to oneself
- Sonder: the realization that every single person on the planet is living a life as cool and complex as your own
Conclusion
Words have power, and esthetic words especially so. Use these to elevate your prose, impress your friends, or just expand your vocabulary. While language is always changing, these classic words have stood the test of time and will continue to resonate with people who appreciate creative and compelling communication.
