Phrase guide

soft pedal

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈsɒf(t)ˌpɛdl̩/
  • General-American: /ˈsɔf(t)ˌpɛdəl/
  • General-American: /ˈsɑf(t)-/

1

noun

Meaning 1

The leftmost foot-pedal on most pianos which, when pushed, dampens the strings and so softens the note played.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: also, attributive

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: una corda pedal

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a pedal on a piano that moves the action closer to the strings and so soften the sound

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: pedal, treadle, foot pedal, foot lever

History

Etymology

From soft (“of sound: quiet”) + pedal.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 弱音踏板 (ruòyīn tàbǎn) — leftmost foot-pedal on most pianos which softens the note played
  • Chinese Mandarin: 柔音踏板 (róuyīn tàbǎn) — leftmost foot-pedal on most pianos which softens the note played
  • Finnish: hiljennyspedaali — leftmost foot-pedal on most pianos which softens the note played
  • French: pédale douce — leftmost foot-pedal on most pianos which softens the note played
  • Welsh: pedal chwith — leftmost foot-pedal on most pianos which softens the note played