Languid Meaning: Pronunciation, Examples and Quiz

Languid means lacking energy, strength or quick movement. This adjective can describe someone feeling tired and weak, or a pleasantly slow, relaxed moment. The context tells you whether the feeling is uncomfortable or enjoyable.

Example: After the long journey, Arun gave a languid wave from the sofa. His movement was slow and showed little energy.

Pronunciation: /ˈlæŋ.ɡwɪd/ — LANG-gwid, with the stress on the first syllable. The ng is like the ending of sing, followed by a hard g sound.

Meaning and common phrases · Sentence examples · Pronunciation video · Quick quiz

What does languid mean?

Low energy or weakness: “The heat left me feeling languid.” Here the speaker feels drained and finds it hard to be active.

Slow, unhurried movement or atmosphere: “We spent a languid afternoon by the lake.” Here the slow pace is pleasant. Languid does not automatically mean lazy, graceful or happy; those ideas depend on the sentence.

Languid afternoon, languid grace and languid pose

• A languid afternoon is slow and relaxed, with little activity. It is not an energetic, busy afternoon.
• Languid grace describes elegance in slow, easy movement. Grace supplies the idea of elegance; languid supplies the unhurried pace.
• A languid pose is a relaxed or loosely held position that suggests little effort.
• Languid movement is slow and low in energy. It may result from relaxation, heat or tiredness.

Languid in a sentence: four examples

• The hot summer afternoon had a languid stillness, broken only by the chirping of crickets. The atmosphere was quiet and inactive.
• After the long hike, we spent the evening in languid conversation by the campfire. The conversation moved at a slow, easy pace.
• Her languid movements across the dance floor exuded grace and ease. The movements were slow; the rest of the sentence explains their elegance.
• He stretched out in a languid pose, enjoying the soft breeze. His posture suggested relaxation.

Synonyms, opposites and related forms

Choose a synonym that fits the intended meaning. Listless or sluggish can fit the low-energy sense; unhurried or relaxed can fit a pleasant slow moment. Energetic, brisk and lively express contrasting ideas.

Languid is an adjective: “a languid gesture.” Languidly is an adverb: “She waved languidly.” The correct spelling is languid, with a g, not “lanquid.”

Languid pronunciation video

Stress the first syllable: LANG-gwid. Listen to the pronunciation example, then say your own sentence.

Practise languid: three quick questions

Choose your answer before opening the explanation.

Question 1

Which best describes “a languid afternoon”: energetic and lively, or slow and relaxed?

Question 2

Does “a languid movement” always mean a graceful movement?

Question 3

Complete: “The cat stretched ___ in the sunlight.” Choose languid or languidly.

Use it yourself: Write one sentence about feeling tired and one about enjoying a quiet afternoon. Make the different contexts clear.

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Dictionary reference: Merriam-Webster: Languid. The explanations and practice questions are written for English Skill Studio.