Words Used to Describe Tone
Click here to go to this list with Spanish translations
Click here to see the correlation to standards
| Bold words are the most general and/or the most commonly used to describe passages you may read (study these!). | ||
| Bold bright blue words have appeared on the California High School Exit Exam released exam items for English Language Arts (http://www.cde.ca.gov/statetests/cahsee/resources.html). | ||
|
Tone |
Meaning |
Hmong Translation |
|
accusatory |
blaming other people | kiam, liam, ua cuav cai |
| ambivalent | having conflicting feelings | tsis pom meeg tiaj, xyoj |
| amused | entertained; thinking it is funny | dab ros |
| angry | mad | chim siab, npau taws |
| anxious | worried or excited | ntxhov siab, nyuaj siab |
| apathetic | indifferent; doesn't care; not interested | tsis muaj ab tsi |
| apologetic | sorry | thov txim |
| appreciative | grateful; thankful | nco txiaj ntsig, ua tsaug |
| arrogant | too proud | khav |
| awe | solemn wonder; amazement | ceeg, tsis ntseeg, ras |
| beguiling | deceptive; cheating | dag, ntxias, khib lav |
| bewilderment | confusion | tov, ua kom paub tsis meej, yoob |
| bitter | angry or hateful | yuav ua pauj, chim siab |
| bored, boring | not interested | tho qhov; laj |
| callous | insensitive | loog |
| calm | relaxed; not excited | so |
| candid | straightforward; blunt | ncaj ncees |
| cheerful | happy | muaj lus zoo siab |
| concerned | worried or interested | txhawj txog; txhawj xeeb |
| condescending | looking down on other people; feeling superior | khav, hais uas muaj meejmom siab dua yus |
| contemplative | studying; thinking; reflective | kev xav |
|
contemptuous |
disrespectful; scornful | tsis hwm |
| courteous | nice; respectful | hwm |
| critical | finding fault | thuam |
| cruel | mean; hurtful | nyaum, limhiam |
| curious | wanting to find out more | xav kawm |
| cynical | questioning the truth or sincerity; skeptical | xav tias ua tsis tau |
| defensive | defending | povfwm, tiv thaiv |
| defiant | going against authority | tsis ua li lawv hais |
| depressed | unhappy, sad | tus siab |
| desperate | frantic; without many options | xav ua kom tau |
| determination | not giving up | mob siab ua kom tau |
| determined | not giving up | muaj siab |
| didactic | trying to teach something | qhia |
| diplomatic | trying not to offend people | tsis ntswv, hais xyuam xim |
| direct | straightforward; honest | ncaj ncees |
| disappointed | discouraged; unhappy because something went wrong | tsis raws siab xav |
| disdainful | scornful | sib ntxub |
| disgusting | yucky | qias neeg |
| dissatisfied | unhappy; not satisfied | u siab |
| dramatic | theatrical | nquag |
| earnest | sincere; honest; intense | ua tiag zoo |
| eccentric | odd; strange; different | txawv |
| egotistical | thinking only about himself; self-centered | yus tus kheej |
| eloquent | expressing ideas in a nice way; poetic; good with words | hais paj lus |
| encouraging | optimistic; trying to convince you to do something because of a belief that you can do it | raug, txhawb zog |
| enthusiastic | excited; energetic | txaus siab heev, kub siab |
| envious | jealous | khib |
| excited | anxious | zoo siab heev |
| expectant | waiting | tos ntsoov yuav pom |
| fanciful | using the imagination; imaginative | kev xav txog tej yam dab tsi |
| fearful | afraid | ntshai |
| formal | respectful, appropriate behavior | ua muaj qauv, raws li kev lig kev cai |
| forthright | direct; honest without hesitation | ncaj ncees |
|
friendly |
the way a person treats friends |
phoojywg |
| frustrated | angry because of not being able to do something | ntxhov siab |
|
funny |
humorous; amusing | txawj tso dag, dab ros |
| gentle | not hurtful; careful | maj mam |
| gloomy | dark; sad; depressed | tu siab heev |
| happy | cheerful; in a good mood | zoo siab |
| hateful | hating something or someone; angry hate | ntxub |
| haughty | proud; vain; arrogant | khav |
| honest | truthful | ncaj ncees |
| hopeful | looking forward to something; optimistic | vam tog, cia siab |
| humorous | funny | lom zem |
| hysterical | very scared | ntshai heev |
| idealistic | thinking of what is best; optimistic; not realistic | zoo tagnrho |
| imaginative | creative; using the imagination | kev xav txog tej yam dab tsi |
| impersonal | not personal | ua saib tsis taus |
| indifferent | unconcerned; not interested | tsis muaj ab tsi |
| indignant | angry because something is not fair | chim siab, npau taws |
| informal | not formal; relaxed | so, khom, phoojywm |
| innocent | not guilty | ncaj ncees, tsis txhaum |
| inspirational | encouraging; reassuring | hais kom txaus siab heev |
| intimate | very familiar; the way one talks to close friends or family | phooj ywg heev |
| ironic | different than what is expected or the opposite of what is meant | hais ib yam yog dua ib yam |
| irritated | annoyed | khib |
| jovial | happy | kaj siab lug |
| judgmental | judging others; critical | txiav txim |
| lackadaisical | lazy | tub nkees |
| lethargic | sleepy | tsaug zog |
| lighthearted | happy, carefree | kaj siab lug |
| lofty | arrogant | khav |
| macabre | about death | hais txog kev tuag |
| malevolent | mean; angry; purposely hateful | phem |
| malicious | purposely hurtful; very mean | phem |
| matter-of-fact | truthful; accepting of conditions; straightforward | ncaj ncees |
| melancholy | sad | tu siab |
| mischievous | playing tricks for fun | txhoj pob, txhoj puab |
| mocking | scornful; ridiculing; making fun of someone | tso dag |
| negative | unhappy; pessimistic | hais tsis zoo |
| nervous | worried | tshee |
| neutral | not good nor bad; not for nor against | tsis paub yuav nyob sab tw |
| nostalgic | thinking about the past; wishing for something from the past | nco zoo |
| objective | without prejudice; without discrimination; fair | tsis saib ntsej muag hais |
| optimistic | hopeful; cheerful | xav kom tau zoo yav tom ntej |
| patient | willing to wait; not in a hurry | siab ntev |
| patronizing | looking down on others; acting superior | khav |
| pensive | kev xav | |
| perplexed | confused; puzzled | yoob |
| persuasive | trying to convince | haub, yaum, ntxias, txw |
| pessimistic | seeing the bad side of things | xav phem heev |
| poetic | expressing beautiful thoughts or words | hais paj lus |
| proud | full of pride in something; thinking that something is better than others | khav |
| quizzical | questioning; eccentric; odd; amusing | hais nug |
| reflective | thoughtful; meditative; thinking | kev xav |
| regret | feeling bad about the past | khuv xim, tu siab |
| relaxation, relaxed | relaxed; not worried; not busy | so, khom, ua ib ce xoob thuav |
| relieved | stop being worried | ua kom tus kab mob ntaug zuj zus |
| remorseful | very sad; sorrowful; regretful | kuv xim heev, tu siab heev |
| reverent | respectful; treating something with honor and respect | saib taus thiab saib txim txiaj |
| rude | not polite | ua tau yam dhuav plhu, txhob txwm, thab plaub, tsis paub cai |
| sad, sadness | unhappy | tu siab, kev tu siab |
| sarcastic | sneering; saying the opposite of what you mean as a way of being unfriendly or making a point | ib lo lus hais kom lwm tus mob siab |
| sardonic | scornful; very sarcastic | sib ntxub |
| satirical | making fun of something to show its weakness or to teach a lesson | tso dag |
| sentimental | thinking about feelings, especially when remembering the past | nco zoo |
| serious | not funny; not joking | tiag tiag |
| sincere | honest; truthful; earnest | ncaj ncees |
| snobbish | acting as though one is better than everyone else; egocentric | khav theeb |
| solemn | sad or quiet reflection | tiag |
| solitude | loneliness | ib twg |
| stiff | formal, serious | tiag tiag, ua muaj qauv, raws li kev lig kev cai |
| straightforward | direct; honest | ncas nceej |
| stubborn | refusing to give in | tawv ncauj |
| surprised | startled; amazed | ceeb, ras |
| suspense, suspenseful | wondering what will happen next | kev paub tsis meej |
| sympathetic | compassionate; understanding of how someone feels | tu siab, pab koj tu siab |
| tearful | sad | quaj |
| tense | nervous | nruj, ceeb, tshee |
| thankful | grateful; giving thanks | ris txiaj |
| threatening | menacing | lus hawv, hawv uav ua phem rau luag |
| tolerant | accepting of others | muab kev tso cai rau, kam rau ua |
| tragic | very sad | sijhawm muaj kev tu siab |
| urgent | insistent; saying something must be done soon | maj nrawm nroo, ua kom sai |
| vindictive | revengeful; wanting to get back at someone | ua tsis txhaum |
| whimsical | playful; funny; odd | txawj tso dag, dab ros, tawb |
Related California English-Language Arts Content Standards for ninth grade for which these words may be used:
Reading Comprehension 9.2.8 Evaluate the credibility of an author's argument or defense of a claim by critiquing the way in which the author's intent affects the structure and tone of the text
Literary Response and Analysis 9.3.9 Explain how voice, persona, and the choice of a narrator affect characterization and the tone, plot, and credibility of a text; 9.3.11 Evaluate the aesthetic qualities of style, including the impact of diction and figurative language on tone, mood, and theme, using the terminology of literary criticism.
Writing Strategies: 9.1.1 Establish a controlling impression or coherent thesis that conveys a clear and distinctive perspective on the subject and maintain a consistent tone and focus throughout the piece of writing; 9.1.9 Revise writing to improve the logic and coherence of the organization and controlling perspective, the precision of word choice, and the tone by taking into consideration the audience, purpose, and formality of the context.
Listening and Speaking: 9.1.11 Assess how language and delivery affect the mood and tone of the oral communication and make an impact on the audience.
Atwater High School
Home of the Falcons!