monotónos

Monotónos is a term used in several disciplines to describe something that remains on a single pitch or tone, with little or no variation in height. The word derives from Greek, from monos meaning "one" and tonos meaning "tone." In Greek-language contexts it is often encountered as μονότονος or monotónos in transliteration, conveying the sense of uniformity in pitch.

In music theory, a monotone or monotónos passage refers to a melody or line that stays within a narrow pitch range or maintains the same pitch for an extended duration. Such passages emphasize rhythm, timbre, or dynamics over melodic contour, and they can appear in chants, drone-based textures, or certain minimalist practices where pitch variation is intentionally minimized.

In linguistics and phonetics, monotone or monotónos describes speech with limited pitch variation, producing a flat or uniform intonation pattern. This use is typically contrasted with varied intonation contours that convey questions, emphasis, or attitude. The exact interpretation of monotonic speech can differ across languages and phonological theories, but the central idea remains the same: prosodic variation is reduced relative to more expressive speech styles.

The term can also appear in broader discussions of tone and color in arts, literature, or sound design, where a single tone acts as a unifying or hypnotic element. See also monotone, monotonic, and related concepts of pitch and prosody.