suoni

Suono is the Italian term for sound, defined as a vibrational disturbance that propagates through a medium and can be perceived by the human ear. In physics, a suono is a pressure wave generated by a vibrating source, such as a string, a column of air, or a mechanical device, and it is described by properties including frequency, amplitude and waveform. The word derives from Latin sonus; the plural form is suoni. The audible range for humans is roughly 20 Hz to 20 kHz, although sensitivity varies with age and individual differences.

The physical properties of a suono include frequency, which largely determines pitch; amplitude, which relates to loudness; and the waveform or spectral content, which shapes timbre. Perception of sound also involves the envelope of the signal (attack, decay, sustain, release) and psychoacoustic factors that influence how loudness, pitch and timbre are experienced. Spatial localization relies on differences in time and level across ears and on room acoustics.

In linguistics and music, suoni have distinct roles. In linguistics, sounds are the basic building blocks of speech, including vowels and consonants, with phonation and articulation providing distinctive features. The study of sonority, pitch patterns, and acoustic cues helps describe phonemes. In music, suoni refer to any produced sound, with attention to pitch, timbre, duration and dynamics that shape musical texture and expression.

Technology and measurement involve recording, reproduction and analysis of sounds. Microphones and loudspeakers convey and render suoni, while digital systems sample and process them (for example, at common rates like 44.1 kHz with 16-bit depth). Sound levels are measured in decibels, and spectral content is analyzed with Fourier methods to visualize frequency distributions.

Environment and culture also influence suoni, as architectural acoustics, sound design and environmental noise affect experience, health and social context.