There are 63 beautiful words that start with the letter S. From Sable to Syzygy. Beautiful words often derive from rich linguistic histories and evoke emotional responses or vivid imagery through their meanings and phonetics. Across cultures and languages, particular words have been cherished for their aesthetic qualities, often gaining appreciation for their sound, form, and conceptual significance. Linguists and lovers of language may seek these words not only for their beauty but also to enrich communication, inspire creativity, and connect with others on a deeper level. The exploration of beautiful words can lead to a greater appreciation of the nuances and subtleties of language itself.

An interesting fun fact about beautiful words is that many of them have origins in languages with rich literary traditions, such as Latin, Greek, or Sanskrit. These words often carry profound meaning and are deeply embedded in cultural contexts, making them resonate with people beyond their immediate definitions. For instance, the word “serendipity” not only sounds pleasant but also encapsulates the unexpected joy of discovering something good without looking for it, illustrating how beautiful words can convey complex ideas and experiences.

Here’s what each of the columns in the table means:

Language of Origin: This column identifies the language from which the beautiful word is derived, highlighting its cultural and linguistic roots.

Meaning: This provides a brief explanation of what the word signifies, offering insight into its definition and usage.

Description: This column elaborates on additional nuances of the word, including its emotional context, connotations, or any relevant background that enhances understanding of its beauty and significance.

Beautiful words That Start With S

Beautiful words language of origin meaning
Sable French ‘black’
Saccharine English (from Italian) sweet, agreeable, or sentimental to an excessive degree
Sacrosanct Latin holy, sacred, inviolable
Saffron Persian golden yellow
Saga Old Norse story, history
Sagacious Latin having or showing keen judgment and discernment
Sage English (from Latin) wise, judicious, or prudent
Sakura Japanese ‘cherry blossom’
Saltimbocca Italian to jump in the mouth
Salubrious English (from Latin) favorable to or promoting health or well-being
Salutary Latin beneficial, wholesome
Sanguine Latin blood-red
Saphire Greek blue
Sapient English (from Latin) wise, judicious, or discerning
Sapiential Latin wise, related to wisdom
Sapphire Greek ‘blue’
Sapphirine Greek of or like a sapphire
Sartorial Italian relating to tailoring or fashion
Satiety Latin state of being full or gratified
Satin French ‘smooth, glossy’
Saturnine English (from Latin) gloomy, melancholic, or sullen
Saunter French to walk in a leisurely manner
Savant French ‘learned’
Scarlet Latin bright red
Schadenfreude German pleasure in others’ misfortune
Scintilla Latin ‘spark’
Scintillant Latin sparkling, shining brightly
Scintillating English (from Latin) brilliantly clever or witty
Scribe Latin to write
Seascape English scene of the sea
Seraph Hebrew ‘burning one’
Seraphic Greek heavenly
Serenade Italian ‘to sing at night’
Serendipitous English ‘happy accident’
Serendipity English ‘happy accident’
Serene English (from Latin) calm, peaceful, or unruffled
Serenity Latin ‘calm, peaceful’
Sesquipedalian Latin given to using long words
Shibboleth Hebrew ear of corn
Sibilance Latin hissing sound
Sibilant Latin making a hissing sound
Silhouette French shadow
Silken Old English soft, smooth, and lustrous
Sinewy Old English having strong, tough tendons or muscles
Sinuous Latin gracefully curving
Siren Greek sea nymph
Sojourn French a temporary stay
Solace Latin comfort
Soliloquy Latin talking to oneself
Sonorous Latin producing a full, deep, and resonant sound
Soulful English expressing deep, intense emotion
Spellbinding English capable of casting a spell, captivating
Splendid Latin magnificent, resplendent
Starry-eyed English filled with idealistic enthusiasm
Sublime Latin of high spiritual, moral, or intellectual worth
Succinct Latin expressed in a clear, concise manner
Sumptuous Latin characterized by luxury, lavishness, and opulence
Supernal Latin heavenly, from above
Surreptitious Latin stealthy, furtive, clandestine
Susurrant Latin whispering, murmuring
Sycophantic Greek servile, obsequious, fawning
Synchronous Greek happening at the same time
Syzygy Greek alignment of celestial bodies

Descriptions

Sable
A sleek, silky black fur that is highly prized for its luxury and elegance. Sable coats are a symbol of wealth and sophistication.
Saccharine
A term used to describe something that is excessively sweet, often in a way that is cloying or artificial. It can be applied to language, behavior, or aesthetics that are overly sentimental or lacking in genuine emotion.
Sacrosanct
Something considered too important or valuable to be interfered with; a fundamental and essential principle that must be protected at all costs.
Saffron
A vibrant yellow-orange spice derived from the flower of the saffron crocus, prized for its distinctive flavor, aroma, and color-giving properties in cuisine and textiles.
Saga
A long, episodic narrative, often of heroic deeds and their significance to a culture, such as the Icelandic sagas documenting the histories and legends of early Scandinavian peoples.
Sagacious
A person or quality characterized by wisdom, insight, and the ability to make sound judgments and decisions.
Sage
A person of profound wisdom and sound judgment, often revered for their deep understanding of the world and ability to provide sage advice. The term can also refer to the aromatic herb of the same name, which has been used for its medicinal and culinary properties.
Sakura
The delicate, ephemeral pink flowers of the cherry tree, which bloom briefly each spring and are a cherished symbol of Japanese culture.
Saltimbocca
A classic Italian dish of veal or chicken wrapped in prosciutto and sage, known for its vibrant flavors that ‘jump’ in the mouth.
Salubrious
Describing something that is healthful, wholesome, or beneficial, such as a salubrious climate or a salubrious lifestyle. The term suggests an environment or condition that is conducive to physical and mental well-being.
Salutary
Something that has a good or beneficial effect, promoting or conducive to physical or mental well-being.
Sanguine
Describing a reddish-orange hue, often associated with optimism, confidence, and a cheerful, sanguine temperament.
Saphire
A precious gemstone valued for its deep, vivid blue color and used in fine jewelry and watchmaking.
Sapient
Possessing or exhibiting great wisdom and judgment. The term is often used to describe individuals or beings of exceptional intelligence and profound understanding, such as a sapient leader or a sapient alien species.
Sapiential
Pertaining to or characterized by wisdom; conveying or expounding wisdom.
Sapphire
A precious gemstone known for its deep, vivid blue color. Sapphires are a popular choice for engagement rings and other fine jewelry.
Sapphirine
The deep blue color of a sapphire gemstone, or a material with a similar hue.
Sartorial
Pertaining to stylish, elegant, or fashionable attire. A ‘sartorial’ person is one who displays a keen sense of style and attention to detail in their dress.
Satiety
The state of being fed or gratified to the full; a feeling of fullness or gratification to the point of excess.
Satin
A smooth, lustrous fabric with a distinctive sheen, often used in high-end clothing, bedding, and home decor for its luxurious feel and appearance.
Saturnine
Describing a person or mood that is characterized by a brooding, melancholic, or sullen disposition. The term is often associated with the planet Saturn, which was believed to have a malign influence on those born under its auspices.
Saunter
To walk slowly and aimlessly, often with an air of casual indifference or relaxation. A ‘saunter’ conveys a sense of unhurried and graceful movement.
Savant
A person of profound and extensive knowledge, especially in a particular field, often possessing exceptional abilities that set them apart from the average person.
Scarlet
An intensely brilliant, crimson-red color, often associated with passion, danger, and power.
Schadenfreude
The experience of taking pleasure, joy, or self-satisfaction from the troubles, failures, or misfortunes of another person.
Scintilla
A tiny, brilliant flash or spark, used to describe a fleeting moment of inspiration, creativity, or insight that illuminates the mind.
Scintillant
Something that emits or reflects bright flashes of light, like a diamond or a star in the night sky.
Scintillating
Describing something that is sparkling, glittering, or dazzlingly brilliant, often in an intellectual or creative sense. A scintillating conversation, for example, would be one that is full of bright, lively, and stimulating exchanges.
Scribe
A professional copyist or writer, especially one who was responsible for producing and maintaining important documents in ancient and medieval societies.
Seascape
A work of art, often a painting, that depicts a view or scene of the ocean, coastline, or maritime environment.
Seraph
A celestial being in the highest rank of angels, often depicted with six wings and a radiant, fiery appearance, symbolizing their proximity to the divine.
Seraphic
Describing something or someone of angelic, celestial, or divine beauty, grace, and purity.
Serenade
A musical performance, typically by a man, dedicated to a woman, often performed outdoors at night as a romantic gesture.
Serendipitous
The fortunate and unexpected occurrence of a positive or beneficial event, often leading to new and exciting discoveries or opportunities.
Serendipity
The chance occurrence of a fortunate, unexpected event or discovery that brings about a positive outcome, often leading to new and exciting possibilities.
Serene
Describing a state of tranquility, calmness, and peacefulness, often associated with a sense of inner harmony and contentment. A serene landscape, for example, would be one that is peaceful and undisturbed, evoking a sense of calm and relaxation.
Serenity
A state of tranquility, calmness, and composure, often associated with spiritual and emotional well-being, and the ability to find inner peace.
Sesquipedalian
A person or word characterized by the use of long, complicated words, often as a way to impress or confuse others.
Shibboleth
A custom, phrase, or use of language that distinguishes a particular group or class of people, especially a byword of a particular class or profession.
Sibilance
The quality of making a hissing or sibilant sound, as in words containing the letters ‘s’, ‘sh’, or ‘z’, and often considered a distinctive feature of poetic or lyrical language.
Sibilant
A speech sound, such as ‘s’ or ‘sh’, that is produced by the flow of air between the tongue and teeth or lips.
Silhouette
The dark outline or shape of something seen against a lighter background, often used in art, design, and fashion to create striking, minimalist effects.
Silken
Describing something with a texture or appearance like that of silk, characterized by a delicate, refined, and luxurious quality.
Sinewy
Physically strong and muscular, with well-developed tendons and muscles that suggest power and endurance.
Sinuous
Characterized by a smooth, flowing, and curving shape or movement. A ‘sinuous’ line or form can evoke a sense of grace, elegance, and sensuality.
Siren
In Greek mythology, a dangerous creature, part woman and part bird, whose enchanting songs lured sailors to their doom on rocky shores.
Sojourn
A temporary residence or visit in a place, often for a specific purpose or period of time.
Solace
The comfort or consolation received in a time of distress or sadness, providing a sense of relief or alleviation from grief or suffering.
Soliloquy
A dramatic device in which a character speaks their thoughts aloud when they are alone, allowing the audience to gain insight into the character’s inner thoughts and emotions.
Sonorous
Describing a voice, instrument, or other sound that is rich, deep, and reverberating, creating a sense of grandeur or importance.
Soulful
Imbued with a sense of deep feeling, passion, and emotional depth, often in a manner that is poignant or evocative.
Spellbinding
Describing something that is so compelling, mesmerizing, or enthralling that it holds the attention of the audience or observer completely.
Splendid
Extraordinarily beautiful, magnificent, or impressive, inspiring awe, admiration, or wonder.
Starry-eyed
Having an expression of enthusiastic wonder, typically due to idealistic excitement or naivety.
Sublime
Describing something that is of the highest, most exalted, and awe-inspiring quality, evoking a sense of wonder, reverence, and transcendence.
Succinct
Characterized by clear, precise, and economical use of language. A ‘succinct’ statement or description conveys the essential information without unnecessary elaboration or verbosity.
Sumptuous
Extremely rich, luxurious, and elaborate, with a grand, lavish, and opulent quality.
Supernal
Relating to or coming from a higher, spiritual, or otherworldly realm, often associated with the divine or transcendent.
Surreptitious
Done in a stealthy, secretive, or underhanded manner, often to avoid detection or observation.
Susurrant
Producing a soft, rustling, or murmuring sound, like the gentle wind through leaves or the quiet chatter of a crowd.
Sycophantic
Characterized by excessive flattery or submission to those in authority, often for the purpose of gaining advantage or favor.
Synchronous
Occurring or existing at the same time; coinciding in time.
Syzygy
The straight-line configuration of three or more celestial bodies (such as the sun, moon, and earth) in a gravitational system.

If you think there is a missing term, let us know using the contact form.